Journalists organisation in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
TheMelbourne Press Club (MPC), is a not-for-profit association of journalists in the city ofMelbourne, Australia. It runs the annualQuill Awards for Excellence in Victorian Journalism.
MPC is a not-for-profit association of journalists.[1]
As of October 2024[update],Michael Bachelard was elected as the new President of the organisation. This followed the resignation ofABC reporterAshlynne McGhee after her tenure as President of more than two years, as well as nearly ten years as a board member.[2][3]
One of the former Presidents of the club was the legendary Melbourne journalist, columnist and writerKeith Dunstan, who in 1991 wrote the bookInformed Sources, a history of the club, its origins, and its predecessors. The club's website hosts an updated version of Dunstan's work.[4]
The 2021 Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards room pre-event
The Melbourne Press Club provides awards in thestate of Victoria for outstanding journalism, presenting the annual Quill Awards for Excellence in Victorian Journalism (usually referred to as simply the Quill Awards, or Quills).[5][6] The Young Journalist of the Year Award was created in 1993.[7]
As of 2024[update] the Quill Awards has the following categories:[8]
Artwork
Best Breaking News or Live Coverage, sponsored by The Lottery Corporation
Best Coverage of an Issue
Business News/Feature, sponsored by McGrathNicol
Cartoon
Coverage of Women in Sport, sponsored by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation
Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting, sponsored by the Federation of
Traditional Owners
Excellence in Science, Medical and Health Reporting, sponsored by University of Melbourne
Feature Writing
Features Photograph
Grant Hattam Quill for Investigative Journalism, sponsored by HWT
Innovation in Journalism, sponsored by Ryman Healthcare
Keith Dunstan Quill for Commentary
Multicultural Affairs and Media, in partnership with Gandel Foundation
News Photograph
News Reporting in Writing
Podcasting
Radio Current Affairs
Radio News
Regional and Rural Journalism, sponsored by TAC
Reporting on Disability Issues, sponsored by the Victorian Government
Scoop of the Year
Sports Feature
Sports News
Sports Photograph
TV Camera Work (Creative)
TV Camera Work (Shot of the Year)
TV/Video Feature
TV/Video News
Young Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Wilnic Family Trust
The Gold Quill is presented to the best category winner.[9]
Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of The Year
From 2011 until 2018, MPC hosted the Australian Media Hall of Fame, which honours "reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers, cartoonists and commentators who have made a significant contribution to the development of Australian media".[10][11]
The MPC holds lunches for the press to meet with high-profile political leaders, business leaders and figures relevant to significant public issues. The Journalism 2007 Conference was sponsored by MPC in 2007, and in 2007, Prime MinisterJohn Howard made an address to the MPC regardingAustralia's Climate Change Policy.[12][13]
^"Media Release: Melbourne Press Club announces new president and board members".www.melbournepressclub.com.Melbourne Press Club. 23 October 2024. Retrieved11 February 2025.Following the Melbourne Press Club's Annual General Meeting today (October 23, 2024), the Club has elected a new president and welcomed four new board members. Outgoing president Ashlynne McGhee has resigned after almost a decade on the board and more than two years as president. The new president is senior writer at The Age, Michael Bachelard.
^"The Board".Melbourne Press Club. 27 May 2016. Retrieved2 May 2024.
^Dunstan, Keith; Swinard, Rick (27 May 2016)."Club History".www.melbournepressclub.com.Melbourne Press Club. Retrieved11 February 2025.The history of the club was first published in 1991 in book form as Informed Sources, by former club president and legendary columnist Keith Dunstan. This online version has been updated by Rick Swinard
