Comms Declare has responded to the news that the Walkley Awards will not be renewing its sponsorship deal with petroleum company, Ampol.
Australia’s premier journalism awards were boycotted by top cartoonists and journalists over the sponsorship deal.
The new policy states ‘The Foundation does not accept money from companies or individuals that it deems to pose a significant reputational risk due to the nature of their dealings that offer no tangible benefit to humanity.’
Comms Declare Founder, Belinda Noble said “This is a significant step for our media and wider society in dealing with the new reality that fossil fuels are doing more harm than good.
“We are very grateful to the Foundation and the brave cartoonists and journalists that publicly stood up against fossil fuel influence peddling.
“Coal, oil and gas companies are a reputational risk to anyone that helps promote them, and that risk will only grow as the climate becomes more unstable.”
Climate communications group, Comms Declare, wrote to the Walkley’s with concerns about the Ampol sponsorship in February 2023, and sent the Foundation an open letter from previous winners in November.
Belinda Noble’s article about the sponsorship deal in Mumbrella inspired Jon Kudelka to be the first to boycott the awards.
