Foreign Correspondent’s Greg Wilesmith wins ABC scholarship
Greg Wilesmith, a senior producer on ABC News’ Foreign Correspondent, has won the 2011 Donald McDonald ABC Scholarship to the Reuters Institute of Oxford.
The announcement:
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott today announced Greg Wilesmith as the winner of the 2011 Donald McDonald ABC Scholarship to the Reuters Institute of Oxford.
Greg is currently a senior producer at Foreign Correspondent. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career at ABC News for more than 25 years. During his time, he has served as
the ABC’s Middle East Correspondent, reporting on the Gulf War in 1991 and as Europe Correspondent, reporting on the Kosovo war in 1998 and NATO’s war against Yugoslavia in
1999. During his Oxford studies, Greg will research how the governments of the United States, UK and Australia were influenced by media coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and whether those governments influenced or sought to influence the reporting and commentary
of these conflicts.Greg will examine the problems and challenges long running wars present for major news organisations. He will look at their obligation to report the conflicts independently and the
issues surrounding “embedding” news staff within military forces. “The extensive experience Greg brings both as a senior journalist and foreign correspondent at the ABC places him in a unique position to research this topic. The insights he will gain in examining the issues surrounding the challenges of independent reporting in wartime conflicts will be of great value to the ABC,” ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said.About the Donald McDonald Scholarship: Every year since 1999 the ABC has awarded one Scholarship to an experienced high level journalist to join the Reuters Institute program
which brings together about 25 established journalists from around the world for the purpose of providing them with opportunities to develop their skills further.It was renamed in honour of Donald McDonald AC on the occasion of his retirement in 2006 in recognition of his commitment to excellence in journalism. As ABC Chairman, Mr Donald McDonald AC was instrumental in the establishment of the Scholarship and provided ongoing encouragement and support for the program and for the Scholars throughout the
program’s history.
