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Media Release

7 May 2012

PRESS CLUB CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS TO MEDIA HALL OF FAME

The Melbourne Press Club is calling for nominations to the Victorian Media Hall of Fame, with the first inductees to be named before the end of this year. The Hall of Fame will recognise people who have made significant contributions to the craft of journalism and enhanced the history of the news media in Victoria. Nominees must have a strong connection to Victoria. The Press Club has appointed an advisory panel to make recommendations to the club committee. The panel members are Melbourne University Professor Geoffrey Blainey, former newspaper editor and author/historian Harry Gordon and former Age editor Michael Smith, a life member of the Press Club. Press Club members and others are invited to nominate individuals, giving reasons why they should be recognised as a Hall of Famer. The advisory panel is particularly interested in nominations of th th people from the 19 and early 20 century in the initial stages of the project. Submissions should be sent to halloffame@melbournepressclub.com th The president of the Melbourne Press Club, Mark Baker, said the Hall of Fame was a 40 birthday initiative of the club and consistent with the clubs mission to recognise excellence in Victorian journalism. The history of Victorian journalism is a great story. Through the Hall of Fame, the club hopes to tell important parts of a rich 175-year history of journalistic achievement, he said. At a time when the profession is changing so quickly and when it is under scrutiny from so many quarters, it is important to sometimes reflect on how journalism has created public benefit in this State. Victoria has had some truly great publishers, reporters, writers, photographers and cartoonists; their deeds should be honoured in historical context. Groups of journalists will be inducted into the Hall of Fame once a year for three or four years. It is then planned to open a permanent display. Media enquiries: Michael Smith 0411 055 306