A team of investigative reporters from the Centre for Advancing Journalism has won this year’s Democracy’s Watchdogs’ student award in the print and online category.

Master of Journalism students Jade Murray, Sasha Gattermayr, James Costa and Helena Morgan were recognised for the forthcoming story ‘Dirty Business’.

The article, which digs into the politics of truck pollution in Melbourne’s western suburbs, was developed in the Investigative Journalism subject.

“Investigative reporting taught us a lot about key principles of journalism, especially accuracy and brevity,” Murray said.

She said the team spent hours digging, researching and seeking information via Freedom of Information to uncover as much detail as they could about the issue.

“When you’re telling an important story like this, finding people who are passionate and knowledgeable is key to unlocking the story,” Murray said.

But while they had plenty of support from background sources, she said it was often challenging to find people willing to go on-the-record.

Writing in The Junction, Democracy’s Watchdog’s CEO Bill Birnbauer said the student awards show “tomorrow’s journalists can keep the fine traditions of investigative journalism alive”.

“Governments, corporations, NGOs and other powerful interests need to be scrutinised by independent and determined watchdog journalists, lest all that power goes to their heads.”

Now in their third year, the annual awards recognise investigative reporting by journalism students. University of Technology Sydney student Brooke Young won in the video and audio category.

University of Melbourne alumni Kate Wong and David Bogi won the inaugural prize in 2020, and Vanessa Di Natale and Petra Stock were both highly commended in 2021.