Paul Sakkal wins Press Gallery Journalist of the Year

Chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal has won the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Journalist of the Year, with judges applauding his agenda-setting reporting.

Sakkal, who has reported on federal politics for Nine’s mastheads since January 2023, was honoured at the annual Midwinter Ball on Wednesday, a charity event held in Parliament House’s Great Hall in Canberra.

“Paul demonstrates a mastery of his craft, consistently breaking important stories across both sides of politics,” the judges said in their remarks.

They said the 29-year-old was the standout candidate this year, and the panel was impressed by his reporting across a wide range of issues, setting the agenda and revealing internal policy developments that leaders from both sides did not want made public.

Sakkal said he was humbled and thanked his editors and colleagues.

Nine mastheads’ executive editor Luke McIlveen congratulated Sakkal, saying, “Paul has made a big impact in Canberra in a relatively short time. He’s as good a journalist as the gallery has seen in a long time”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Sakkal, who was appointed chief political correspondent for this masthead in May.

Sakkal won the press gallery’s 2024 Wallace Brown Young Journalist of the Year, a Walkley Award for best news report in 2023, and has three Quill awards from the Melbourne Press Club.

“It’s a huge honour to accept this award, given the names of those who’ve won it previously. I’m privileged to help explain what’s happening in politics, with our gun Canberra team, for our valued readers,” Sakkal said.

The award, presented by the National Press Club, recognises outstanding bodies of work in journalism, combining insightful analysis and news-breaking coverage that changes the course of the political debate and informs audiences with unique insights.

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