The judges of the prestigious Kennedy Awards have recognised Living Black for excellence in Indigenous Affairs reporting.
Living Black, the longest-running First Nations current affairs and investigation program, was nominated twice in the category.
Living Black's Karla Grant, Gary Cox, Greg Wilesmith and Bianca Schneller were awarded the prize for 'Just Kids', an damning investigation into the Northern Territory's youth justice system.
“I’m incredibly proud of my team," said Grant.
"This is well deserved recognition and acknowledgement for the work we do and for a very important story that needed to be told."
Living Black met with several boys and young men for their investigation into the NT's youth justice system.
All offered damning accounts of the Northern Territory’s changing youth justice system.
Some, like Cyrus (not his real name), were brave enough to tell their stories on camera.
Stream free On Demand
Just Kids
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 37m
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 37m
"Indigenous youth are being incarcerated at high rates in the NT and locking them up is not the solution," Grant told NITV.
"I applaud the young men and their families for being brave and sharing their stories with us. And I thank those we spoke to on the ground who are delivering vital services in community to help keep our kids safe and out of the juvenile justice system.”
The Living Black team were also nominated for a separate program in the same category, an investigation into allegations of mismanagement and inappropriate teacher behaviour at an independent Queensland school.
It's not the first time Living Black has won at the Kennedy Awards.
In 2023, their investigation into the disturbance and destruction of First Nations heritage, titled 'Cultural Genocide', won the award for reporting on the environment.
