The Lowy Institute is delighted to announce that the winner of the 2026 Lowy Institute Media Award is ABC News’ Stephen Dziedzic.
The Award was announced at an event at the Lowy Institute in Sydney tonight, hosted by the Institute’s Deputy Chairman Steven Lowy AM and Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove AM.
Dr Fullilove said the award recognised Mr Dziedzic’s outstanding coverage of foreign affairs, including several stories about Canberra’s diplomatic dealmaking with Pacific Island countries.
“This year, we add Stephen Dziedzic’s name to the distinguished list of Australian journalists who have won the Lowy Institute Media Award,” said Dr Fullilove. “My fellow judges and I were impressed by Stephen’s body of work over the past 12 months, his consistency and versatility as a foreign affairs reporter, and his ability to bring clarity to complex issues affecting Australia’s place in the world.”
Dr Fullilove also congratulated the other finalists who were shortlisted this year: Amanda Hodge for her reporting in The Australian on the impact of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, her coverage of the drug trade across the Pacific Islands, and her reporting on the HIV epidemic in Fiji; ABC’s Foreign Correspondent team of Stephanie March, Lice Movono, Marian Kupu, Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong and Kyle Taylor for their two-part investigation into the drug smuggling routes running through the Pacific and their impact on Pacific Island communities; and The New York Times’ Jonathan Swan for his reporting on the behind-closed-doors manoeuvring of President Trump’s second administration.
The Lowy Institute Media Award has been presented each year since 2013 to recognise excellence in coverage of international affairs by Australian journalists and media outlets.
On this year’s judging panel, Dr Fullilove was joined by The Australian journalist Cameron Stewart, The New York Times correspondent Victoria Kim,ABC journalist Isabella Higgins, and Lowy Institute Board member Mark Ryan.
This year’s winner receives a prize of AU$20,000 and a distinctive trophy by Dinosaur Designs.
MEDIA CONTACT
Andrew Griffits
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