New fellowship for mid-career journalists honours Judith Whelan

The ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald and Sydney University have created a new fellowship to honour the late journalist Judith Whelan, who died of cancer in 2024.

Judith Whelan made a tremendous contribution to Australian media, but it was her leadership style and fostering of young women that marked her out as a trailblazer in the industry.

The Judith Whelan Leadership Fellowship will be awarded annually, in recognition of Whelan's service to journalism and to continue her legacy of lifting future women leaders.

Judith's husband Chris Henning said she would have been proud to have inspired the fellowship.

"Three institutions which she served and for which she had the greatest respect coming together in her name to foster the talents of young women in journalism, the industry she loved most — that is a fantastic initiative," he said.

Women lifting up other women

Each year the ABC and the Herald will each select a candidate to participate in the Sydney Leadership Accelerator Program, a course run by Sydney Uni to help new and experienced managers transition into more senior roles.

Fellowship recipients will also have the opportunity to select an additional short course of their choice.

Whelan was the second woman to become editor of the SMH and, while leading the paper, she mentored Lisa Davies.

"Judith was someone who was incredibly generous with her time and really looked to support all of her colleagues but, in particular, she really tried to support women in the middle stages of their career, just at a time when they might have been contemplating moving up the ranks into leadership roles," Davies said.

"And I was a very lucky beneficiary of her support.

"I credit her with really preparing me for one of the most important and biggest roles of my career: editing the Sydney Morning Herald."

Whelan worked at the ABC from 2016-2024, as director of the regional and local division and then as editorial director.

Before joining the ABC, she spent her career as a journalist and leader at the Herald, including as editor and news director, as well as seven years running the Good Weekend magazine.

Davies said, no matter how frantic the newsroom was, Whelan always had time for her staff.

"She was incredibly kind. She was also very tough, but she was a terrific supporter of not just you as a professional, but as a person," Davies said.

"So I think it's something that is pretty unique, certainly at the time when I came across her, it was a very rare thing to have someone be so kind and deliberate in their support of other women.

"Kindness is hugely important in the crazy world of journalism, when you've got information flying at you from all angles, you've got key pressured decisions to be made all the time."

The ABC and the Herald, in conjunction with the Judith Whelan Fellowship committee, will also nominate a minimum of two women leaders to provide mentorship and guidance to the successful candidates during the 12-month fellowship.

Whelan studied at Sydney Uni, where she was deeply involved in campus life and student politics, becoming the first female president of the University of Sydney Union.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks said Whelan was "an extraordinary leader at the ABC whose commitment and vision helped shape and strengthen our regional and rural services in lasting ways".

"This fellowship is a deeply meaningful tribute to Judith's life and legacy, supporting and inspiring the next generation of women in journalism across the organisations that meant so much to her," he said.

The founding Judith Whelan Fellowship Committee comprises Chris Henning; Lee Glendinning, ABC Head of Digital and National News; Monique Farmer, national managing editor The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age; Clare Masters, executive director of public affairs, University of Sydney; and former Herald editor Lisa Davies.