Star Observer Wins Journalism Award For Coverage Of Recent Oxford St Police Raids

We’re very proud to announce that Star Observer journalist Jacques Nieuwoudt has been awarded the Young Journalist Award at NSW Council of Civil Liberties’ recent Annual Dinner and Excellence in Civil Liberties Journalism Awards.

Jacques was recognised for his coverage of the recent NSW Police raids on Oxford Street, wherein expert analysis revealed authorities may have lied to the public about the true intentions behind their targeting of LGBTQ+ venues.

The Young Journalism award seeks to commemorate excellent work upholding civil liberties and holding governments and corporations to account.

“Frankly, this isn’t my award,” Jacques told this masthead. “I merely asked questions, and deferred to the scholars — notably the incredible Dr Kane Race — who have been fighting this battle for years.

“That said, what I discovered is more than award-worthy. It is worthy of riots in the street. And it is that the NSW Police have known since 2014 that their sniffer dog raids kill people, and with that knowledge, continue to march them into queer venues.”

While Jacques is incredibly humble in his acceptance of this award, as the Managing Editor of Star Observer, I can attest to how hard Jacques worked on this story, and am very proud that his incredible efforts – particularly his determination to ask the hard questions that needed to be asked – have been recognised.

Jacques and Star Observer extend our deepest thanks to the NSWCCL for their continued allyship to the LGBTQIA+ community, and their unapologetic championing of queer rights.

Jacques also thanked our readers, and everyone who has donated to our current fundraiser to keep independent LGBTQIA+ journalism alive.

“Thanks to you, Star Observer can hire real queer journalists, report on what truly matters to the community, and keep AI slop out of our news feeds.”

What are the NSWCCL Journalism Awards?

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties held its 64th Annual Dinner and Excellence in Civil Liberties Journalism Awards on Thursday, 1 October, where Jacques was awarded in the Young Journalist category.

Since 2019, the NSWCCL have recognised journalists working in Australia who produce excellent work promoting civil liberties and holding governments and corporations to account.

Founded in 1963, the NSWCCL is one of Australia’s leading human rights and civil liberties organisations.

The NSWCCL works to monitor and fight against infringement of our rights and liberties and the abuse of power by government, its agencies and others. They also work to influence public debate and secure amendments to laws or changes in policy to strengthen our democratic rights and liberties.