The Walkley awards will ban chequebook journalism after the Spotlight program was nominated for scoop of the year for an interview with Bruce Lehrmann secured by paying $100,000 for his rent on top of expenses for dining, entertainment and golf trips.
During Lehrmann’s defamation trial the federal court heard claims that he discussed payment of about $200,000 for his participation in an interview and was reimbursed by the network for money spent on cocaine and sex workers, which were euphemistically invoiced as “pre-production expenses”.
The evidence came from former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach who said he put $10,000 on a corporate credit card to pay for Thai massages for Lehrmann in order to convince him to do an interview.
“Mr Auerbach did spend in excess of $10,000 on Mr Lehrmann on Seven’s corporate credit card to pay for prostitutes and drugs,” Matt Collins KC, for Ten, said. “And Mr Lehrmann benefited from those purchases.”
The new chair of the Walkley judging board, Sally Neighbour, said the foundation had rewritten the rules and would not condone or reward chequebook journalism.
The Lehrmann interview was nominated for a Walkley award last year, but the nomination was revoked in December after the rental payment was revealed in court.
“The events of last year, which saw the board remove the finalist status of an entry, highlighted the need to strengthen the foundation’s policy on this issue,” the former executive producer of the ABC’s Four Corners said.
“We are confident these changes reflect and strengthen the Walkleys’ commitment to the highest levels of integrity and excellence in Australian journalism.”
The Walkley board had announced a review of its rules on chequebook journalism after it emerged that Seven paid Lehrmann’s rent for a year to secure an interview that was later nominated for the 2023 scoop of the year award.
Seven claimed its entry had “fully met the entry criteria” for the award as it had disclosed it assisted with accommodation expenses during filming.
The new rules say entrants must detail all payments, inducements, or benefits over a total value of $200, including value-in-kind benefits following the publication of the relevant story or series of stories.
For the first time the foundation will scrutinise entries where journalists declare that a benefit has been given in the preparation of stories and interviews.
The Seven Network has denied reimbursing Lehrmann for drugs and sex workers.
“Seven did not reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and has never done so,” a spokesperson said after the evidence was heard in court in April.
Another Spotlight program won scoop of the year at the Kennedy awards in 2022 for an interview with the husband of Melissa Caddick, without disclosingthat Anthony Koletti was paid $150,000 to speak to journalist Michael Usher.
