Melbourne author Dr Sally Young announced as Colin Roderick Literary Award winner
The winner of JCU’s prestigious Colin Roderick Literary Award was announced this week via an online ceremony connecting the finalists from around Australia.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The winner of JCU’s prestigious Colin Roderick Literary Award has been announced after taking the judges eight months to read the finalists.
Paper Emperors: The Rise of Australia’s Newspaper Empires by Melbourne-based author Dr Sally Young was selected as the 2020 winner.
The 522-page nonfiction book documents the corporate and political history of newspapers from 1803 to 1941.
Dr Young said it was “thrilling” to take home the $20,000 prize money and will donate a portion to the winnings to The Walkley Foundation.
“It is such an enormous honour to be in that field of amazing Australian authors and the range of books that tell Australian life” she said.
“This award gives me the chance to contribute to supporting those who are finding new ways to do journalism.”
MORE NEWS
Instant wealth: New Queensland gold rush
Manhunt underway for Royal Hotel thieves
Highway upgrade could be death of Burdekin
The Colin Roderick Award is one of Australia’s oldest literary awards, founded in 1967 by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies.
More than 160 books were entered into the awards taking a panel of judges more than eight months to read the selection of titles.
Dr Young said she wrote the book because she wanted to document the important role newspapers have played in Australian politics, history, and public life.
Originally published as Melbourne author Dr Sally Young announced as Colin Roderick Literary Award winner