Media release
12 November 2008
Journalism Award Fosters Indonesian-Australian Relationship
I am pleased to announce that this year's recipients of the Elizabeth O'Neill Journalism Award are Sophie Morris, a journalist with the Australian Financial Review; and Kartika Sari, a journalist with Rakyat Merdeka.
The Elizabeth O'Neill Journalism Award is in memory of Liz O'Neill, Public Affairs Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, who tragically died in service on 7 March 2007 as a result of a plane crash in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Liz O'Neill worked tirelessly with the Australian and Indonesian media to foster a better understanding of both countries through accurate and informed media coverage.
Sophie Morris, from the Australian Financial Review, has a keen interest in improving her understanding of the challenges facing Indonesia in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, food security issues, education, and the role of Australian development assistance.
Kartika Sari is Executive Editor of Foreign Affairs with Rakyat Merdeka, a popular daily political newspaper in Indonesia. She has a strong interest in developing understanding and improving communication between Indonesia and Australia and has previously written about political dialogue between the two countries.
To further these aims the Liz O'Neill Award recipients will spend up to three weeks in-country meeting government officials, academics, industry representatives, non government organisations and community members, to build a stronger understanding and appreciation of the issues facing contemporary Indonesia and Australia.
The Award is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australia-Indonesia Institute, and is conferred annually on two journalists, one Australian and one Indonesian. It is open to print, radio, television and internet journalists.
The program aims to assist journalists develop expertise in such areas as foreign and trade policy, development assistance, culture, people-to-people links, and education.
Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555