New award recognises value of arts journalism

At a time when mainstream media coverage of the arts continues to shrink, the nation’s foremost journalism awards have at last recognised arts journalism.
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Muppet critics Statler and Waldorf; image via muppet.wikia.com

The annual Walkley Awards, established in 1956 to recognise excellence in journalism, have added a new category for arts journalism.

The new award, which is open to arts commentators working across print, electronic and online media, will recognise a significant contribution in reporting, writing, news breaking and analysis of arts issues.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts