Actor, writer and director Jonathan Biggins announced the winners of the satirical Orwell Awards at the Australian Press Freedom Dinner on Friday, April 28. The winners were selected from a swag of contenders, nominated by members of the Australian media for excellence in stifling freedom of expression. AWB and DFAT took the Australian Orwell while US Vice President Dick Cheney was the stand out nominee for the international Gold Orwellian. Judges’ comments follow.

Australian media workers are increasingly becoming the targets of violence, in an anti-media environment perpetuated by growing legislated control on its freedom. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance will release its second report into the state of press freedom in Australia on Friday, April 28 at the Australian Press Freedom Dinner in Sydney.

Intense and extended working hours, unrealistic expectations and fewer staff to pick up the slack are all contributing to unsafe working conditions, according to an accirt report into occupational health and safety issues facing Australian media workers. The report was released at the Freelance Journalists Conference on Friday 7 April. Read it here.

The major yearly gathering for Australia’s independent media will begin in Melbourne today, April 7, with the opening of the 2006 Freelance Journalism Convention. Read all the news and reports from the convention including contributions from featured speakers at the Freelance Convention Blog.