Musings of an Inappropriate Woman

» Walkley list revealed - mUmBRELLA

via buyhercandy:

Annabel Crabb is nominated for Magazine Feature Writing, while Kate Geraghty is nominated for Press Photographer of the Year and is part of a group nominated for Best Online Journalism for their amazing multimedia piece on sexual warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Steve Cannane is also nominated with three others for an ABC2 episode of Hack.

On a more entertaining note, check out some of the best headline nominations: “Ludwig bans vote haven”, and “Regrets? We’d had a flu”.

To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed (if not surprised) by the conservatism of their choices. Annabel Crabb’s Turnbull essay was outstanding piece of feature writing - undoubtedly one of the best of the year - but only at the greatest stretch of the imagination is Quarterly Essay a magazine (really, it’s a short-form book). Similarly, the Weekend Australian (which took out both of the other nominees in this category) and other newspaper magazine supplements very much teeter on the boundary between newspaper and magazine journalism.

I understand why the Walkleys privilege this more newsy style of journalism - there’s a lot of crap out there in magazine land - but there’s also some brilliant writing in them too. In The Monthly, most obviously, but also in Vogue, in YEN, Madison, Marie Claire and other, non-womensy publications.

I was similarly disappointed to see all the online nominees come from newspaper websites. All these stories are technically outstanding, but I think the most interesting online work is happening elsewhere: in Crikey, in New Matilda and in the blogosphere.

And again with the non-fiction book award: there seems to be a self-consciously serious, establishment sameness to them.

Perhaps it’s time to launch a new set of awards? Especially on the online front.

Disclosure: yes, I did submit work for consideration; no, I was never delusional enough to think it might win. A nomination does equal a party invite, though, and I never say no to a good party. ;)