Celebrating Our Standout Team

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Good journalists are generally well-paid, have stimulating jobs, and don't need the lure of prizes to motivate them to excel. But peer recognition in this highly competitive game is always welcome - and should be celebrated. Last week, this magazine's Editor at Large, Tom Dusevic, was honored at the Walkley Awards, Australia's most prestigious journalism prizes. He won the all-media Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique category for three pieces in the areas of politics, economics and diplomacy, including a major story on former Labor leader Mark Latham in the run-up to last year's federal election ("Latham's Ladder," October 4, 2004). The judges said: "Incisive, lively, beautifully written, Dusevic's piece on Latham was the standout critique of the most analysed person in Australia at the time."

Sydney-born Dusevic, 41, joined Time in 1998 as deputy editor. In recent years he has been able to turn more of his attention to writing and reporting. Along with his regular commentary pieces, in the past year Dusevic's assignments have led to cover stories on the Solomon Islands rescue mission, China's growing influence in Australia and New Zealand's recent general election.

Also in the Walkleys spotlight were Rory Callinan and Tim McGirk, finalists in the magazine feature writing category. Their compelling special report about a disastrous 2002 Australian Special Air Service patrol in Afghanistan ("In the Valley of Death," June 6) created a political storm for the Australian Defence Force and the federal government. Brisbane-based Callinan has set a cracking pace with his reporting on Australian national security and defense, and from Papua New Guinea, since joining Time last year. Please join me in congratulating Tom, Rory, Tim and the rest of our team on their splendid achievement.