The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong wins the 2025 Lowy Institute Media Award

The Lowy Institute is delighted to announced that the winner of the 2025 Lowy Institute Media Award is The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong.

The Award was announced at an event at the Lowy Institute in Sydney tonight, hosted by the Institute’s Chairman Sir Frank Lowy AC, Deputy Chairman Steven Lowy AM and Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove AM.

Dr Fullilove said the award recognised Ms Wong’s outstanding work hosting The Economist’s eight-part podcast series, ‘Scam Inc.’, which examines the impact of the sophisticated international industry of online scams.

“Sue-Lin Wong now joins a distinguished group of Australian journalists whose reporting has been honoured with the Lowy Institute Media Award,” said Dr Fullilove. “My fellow judges and I were riveted by Sue-Lin's remarkable podcast, ‘Scam Inc.’”

Dr Fullilove also congratulated the other two finalists who were shortlisted this year: Will Glasgow for his work as The Australian’s North Asia Correspondent, including a selection of stories covering the US–China trade war, China’s energy policy, China’s perspective on AUKUS, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic; and freelance journalist Prue Lewarne for her story ‘The Beast: Mexico’s Deadliest Train’ for SBS’s Dateline program.

The Lowy Institute Media Award has been presented each year since 2013 to recognise excellence in coverage of international affairs by Australian journalists and media outlets.

On this year’s judging panel, Dr Fullilove was joined by The Australian journalist Paul Kelly, Nine’s A Current Affair host Allison Langdon, ABC journalist Leigh Sales, and Lowy Institute Board member Mark Ryan.

This year’s winner receives a prize of AU$20,000 and a distinctive trophy by Dinosaur Designs.

MEDIA CONTACT
Andrew Griffits
Head of Media and Communications
media@lowyinstitute.org