Singer, Jill (c. 1957 - )

A journalist with extensive experience in the print and electronic media Jill Singer has worked at all levels behind and in front of the camera and microphone across Australia for both commercial and public broadcasters. Jill has produced and presented radio programs from remote rural locations, and designed, produced and presented national television news and current affairs programs. As well as winning awards for television broadcasts on architectural and medical issues, Jill won the Walkley award in 1992 for best television investigative journalist and the Quill award for best television current affairs report in 1999.

Jill Singer won the 1992 Walkley Award for best television investigative journalist for the story called 'Baby M'. The story took six weeks to prepare and was described by the judges as 'an outstanding report which invesitgated the circmstances surrounding very emotional issues - the death of a severely abnormal baby'.

It was a story of national significance because it hinged on fundamental inadequacies in Australian law regarding the rights and obligations of doctors and parents in relation to the treatment of very disabled or sick newborn babies.

In the course of producing the story, Singer negotiated exclusive access to doctors, specialists, Right to Life advocates and 'Baby M's' parents.

As a direct result of the story, the Victorian Law reform Commisssion drew up guidelines for parents and doctors so that the trauma endured by 'Baby M's' parents would never be repeated.

Events

1984 -	Career in journalism active
1992	Walkley Award (Gold Walkley) - Gold Award - Best Piece of Journalism, 'Baby M', Australian Broadcasting Corporation
1992	Walkley Award (Television) - Best Investigative Report (Television), 'Baby M', Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Award

• Walkley Awards (1956 - )

Australian Women Exhibitions

• The Women's Pages: Australian Women and Journalism since 1850, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2008, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/cal/cal-home.html. [ Details... ]

Online Resources

• Warren, Agnes, The Media Report: Women in the Media, ABC Radio National, 16 November 1995, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/mstories/mr161101.htm. [ Details... ]