Recognition & Opportunities

• March 2024: Finalist, Melbourne  Press Club Quill Award for Feature Reporting, for Climate Justice in the Pacific published by The Monthly
• August 2023: Winner, Australia Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism, for Buried Treasure published in Griffith Review
• December 2022: Grattan Institute’s 2022 Prime Minister’s Summer Reading List, for Buried Treasure published in Griffith Review
• 2020 – Winner, Walkley Foundation Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism
• May 2019 – Finalist, Walkley Foundation Freelance of the Year
• November 2018 – Nominee, The Lowy Institute Media Prize
• November 2018 – Runner up, UNSW Bragg Prize for Science Writing
• July 2018 – Finalist, Australia Museum Eureka Award for Science Journalism
• November 2017 – Winner, Walkley Foundation/MEAA Freelance Journalist of the Year
• November 2017 – Runner-up, UNSW Bragg Prize for Science Journalism
• March 2017 – Winner, Melbourne Press Club Quill Award for Best Feature
• July 2016 – Finalist, Australian Museum Eureka Award for Science Journalism
• November 2014 – Winner, University of New South Wales Bragg Press Prize for Science Writing
• March 2014 – (for PNG stories for The Global Mail)
• March 2014 – Winner, 2013 George Munster Award for Independent Journalism (University of Technology Sydney)
• November 2013 – Winner, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Media Prize
• October 2013 – Finalist, University of New South Wales Bragg Press Prize for Science Writing
• September 2013 – Finalist, Inaugural Lowy Institute Media Award
• Royal Australia New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) 2013 Media Award of Excellence
• November 2012 – Winner, University of New South Wales Bragg Press Prize For Science Writing
• October 2012 – Finalist, United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards, Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Women’s Rights and Issues
• July 2012 – Appointed Honorary Fellow with the Alfred Deakin Research Institute (Deakin University) to pursue reporting on issues in PNG and the Pacific and contributing to Contemporary History Project
• Recognition for Feeling The Heat: Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards (short-listed); John Button Prize for Public Policy writing (long-listed); UNSW Bragg Science Press Prize (winner – extract)
• 2010 United Nations Media Peace Award (Best Print Feature – Heart of the Battle, Afghanistan) (Finalist in 2009, for Papua New Guinea series).
•  2009 AND 2010: Highly Commended, Best Feature in Print, Quill Awards (Melbourne Press Club), 2009 (Good Weekend feature – A Good Man in Africa, Harry O’Brien goes home to the Congo); and 2010 (Bob Katter profile, Insight).
• 2009 Walkley Award (Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique): Judges’ comments: The elegance of Jo Chandler’s prose and the passion behind each word makes these pieces utterly compelling. This is empathetic journalism at its finest. She has aired voices which could not be heard in their own country and has brought them to vivid life. Refreshingly, Chandler has found a new way to persuade us to engage with Third World oppression and suffering. A good read. Full citation and links to: http://www.walkleys.com/2009walkleywinners#all-media-commentary-analysis-opinion-and-critique
•  2009 Australian Antarctic Division Fellowship
• 2007 Australian Antarctic Division Fellowship
• 2003 Harry Brittain Fellowship from Commonwealth Press Union.
• 2002: Series Editor of “The Gene Journey”, awarded the Eureka Prize for Health and Medical Research Journalism
• 1987-88: Rotary Foundation Scholarship (University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism)