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Journalists who know a thing or two about Freedom of Information (correction they all do these days) feature in the finalists for this year's Walkley awards.

Linton Besser of the Sydney Morning Herald is a finalist in two categories: Investigative Journalism for ?The wrong stuff? about Defence contracting, and Print News Report, with Sean Nicholls and Nick O'Malley, for ?Freebies for Labor minister? about then NSW cabinet minister Ian Macdonald's failure to declare $30000 in airline upgrades. Interestingly both reports had their genesis in information available on the public record, although there was plenty of digging thereafter.

While not mentioned in the citation, Paul Toohey and Janet Fife-Yeomans, also finalists in this category for The Azaria files, obtained jury notes, documents, photos and transcripts of conversations with police in the Chamberlain trial 30 years ago through a freedom of information application. 

Tim Lester, with Andrew Meares, is in the Broadcast and Online Interviewing category for online interviews on smh.com.au- ?Bishop?s passports?, ?Gillard Challenge? and ?Hockey?s Costings.?

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