Liz Jackson grew up in Parkville, near the University of Melbourne. In the 1970s, after completing an arts degree, she travelled to London where she studied to be a barrister. On her return to Australia she worked for the New South Wales Government.

It was during this time that Liz Jackson moved into a home full of journalists, eventually shifing into journalism herself. 'My life as a public servant seemed a lot less interesting than theirs' as journalists,' she said. 'No one seemed to want to know what I did that day.'

Jackson joined the ABC in 1987. After spending seven years in radio, at Radio National and 2JJJ, she joined Four Corners as a reporter. In 2005 she became host of Media Watch. She is now (2008) back at 4 Corners.

Events

c. 1985 -

Career in journalism active

1993

Walkley Award (All Media) - Best International Report, 'Somalia. Dying for Relief', Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1996

Walkley Award (Television) - Best Application of the Television Medium to Journalism, 'Telling His Story' Australian Broadcasting Corporation (with Ashley Smith)

2000

Walkley Award (All Media) - Coverage of Sport, 'Fixing Cricket', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, (with Lin Buckfield & Peter Cronau)

2000

Walkley Award (All Media) - Coverage of Indigenous Affairs, 'Go to Jail', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, (with Lin Buckfield)

2002

Walkley Award (All Media) - Social Equity Journalism (Highly Commended), 'Putting The Children At Risk', Australian Broadcasting Corporation (with Morag Ramsay & Jo Puccini)

2006

Walkley Award (Gold Walkley) - 'Stoking the Fires', 4 Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (with Lin Buckfield and Peter Cronau)

2006

Walkley Award (All Media) - Coverage of the Asia-Pacific Region, 'Stoking the Fires', 4 Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (with Lin Buckfield)

Sources used to compile this entry: Pedler, Emma & Joseph Thomsen, 'Liz Jackson', in ABC South Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2005, http://www.abc.net.au/sa/stories/s1383221.htm; http://www.walkleys.com/winners/database.html.