Western writer recognised for journalistic excellence celebrates win at the Walkley Awards
Dr Catriona Menzies-Pike from Western Sydney University’s Writing and Society Research Centre was announced as the winner of the prestigious Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism at the Walkley Foundation’s 2023 Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism.
As the Editor of the Sydney Review of Books and Publishing Director for The Writing Zone, Dr Menzies-Pike was recognised for her outstanding contribution to Australian journalism for her two Sydney Review of Books works titled ‘Critic Swallows Book’ (opens in a new window) and ‘Fool’s Gold’(opens in a new window).
The Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism celebrates the unique contribution of critics to the cultural landscape of Australian journalism and the specialist, detailed knowledge they draw on to contextualise works of art.
Dr Kate Fagan, Director of the University’s Writing and Society Research Centre congratulated Dr Menzies-Pike on achieving one of the highest accolades of excellence in Australian journalism.
“This award brings well-deserved, national acclaim for Dr Menzies-Pike’s stellar contribution to public conversations about the value of literature,” said Dr Fagan.
“Over a decade, she has been a steward for hundreds of Australia’s best literary-critical voices, in her role as Editor of the Sydney Review of Books. But as this Walkley Award shows, she’s also been a leader in setting the terms for critical thinking on Australian literature, by writing superb essays.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Dr Catriona Menzies-Pike was Dr Melinda Jewell from the University’s Writing and Society Research Centre.
The Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism is supported by the Hantomeli Foundation and administered by the Walkley Foundation.
ENDS
27 June 2023
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