Ben Butler has resigned as chair of the Walkley Awards judging board after it was alleged he said a colleague at the ABC should be “killed and buried in a shallow grave”. The Walkley Foundation confirmed the resignation on Wednesday but declined to answer further questions about the departure.
Background of the Allegation
Butler, a former ABC journalist and previously a reporter for Guardian Australia, allegedly made the comment during a heated phone conversation with a colleague while working in the ABC’s Melbourne newsroom. The incident went unreported at the time. The ABC suspended Butler over the remark, and he resigned from the corporation earlier this year.
Appointment and Resignation
In April, the Walkley Foundation announced Butler as chair of the judging board, which decides the annual prizes for excellence in journalism. However, earlier this month, The Australian reported the allegations. Butler told The Australian that its version was distorted and that he resigned from the ABC following a series of short-term contracts.
Butler won two Walkley Awards at last year’s 70th gala event as part of a team reporting on Australia’s childcare crisis. He has also worked at the Herald Sun, The Age, and The Australian, specialising in the intersection of business and crime.
Replacement and Future of the Walkleys
The Walkley Foundation has appointed former Age editor Gay Alcorn as the new chair of the judging board. Alcorn, a former Guardian Australia Melbourne editor, is a three-time Walkley Award winner and a senior writer with Good Weekend magazine.
Walkley Foundation chief executive Shona Martyn said Alcorn brings exceptional experience to the role. “Gay is a thoughtful and perceptive judge who has long been a champion of public interest journalism and the highest editorial standards,” Martyn said.
Alcorn joined the board last year and previously served on the board between 2008 and 2011. “The Walkleys are the premier journalism awards in Australia and it is an honour to play a role in recognising the outstanding journalism we produce every year,” Alcorn said.
Upcoming Awards
The 71st Walkley Awards open for entries on 1 July and will be presented on 19 November.
