Walkley Foundation appoints top barrister to review award process after Laming case

A leading barrister will head a probe into how the prestigious Walkley Foundation awarded a top gong to a series of stories about controversial former Bowman MP Andrew Laming.

The Walkley Award is the highest accolade in journalism and is awarded annually.

One of the country's leading barristers will head the team advising the Walkley Foundation over the awarding of the 2021 Award for a series of stories about former Bowman MP Andrew Laming.

Barrister William Houghton will provide the foundation with independent legal advice over a series of stories about Mr Laming by Nine News reporters Peter Fegan and Rebeka Powell.

The Walkley Foundation took the action saying it considered there were particular circumstances to be considered in respect of the award and subsequent litigation concerning one of the reports.

“Interested parties in relation to this particular Award have been invited to provide materials in respect of whether the Award should be revoked, annulled or there should be some other outcome,” the foundation said.

Former Bowman MP Andrew Laming.

Mr Laming will give evidence to a probe into the Walkley Awards, the country’s highest accolade for journalists, after he successfully sued Nine News over the winning report.

Nine apologised to Mr Laming for the false claims about the photograph after a Federal Court ruling which is believed to have cost the network close to $1 million.

The foundation, which has run the journalism awards since 1956, said Mr Houghton would provide confidential advice and would be consulted on decisions the foundation might make about the award and before making any announcements.

A panel of senior independent experts will also conduct a separate review of the organisation’s complaints mechanisms.

Walkley Foundation chief executive Shona Martyn said there was an existing internal process to review complaints about its awards.

“While it is our practice to regularly review all aspects of the awards, at this time we have resolved to consider whether we should tighten our policies and procedures to make sure we have the most rigorous processes in place to ensure our charter of excellence and the highest ethical standards of journalism.”