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SBS journo wins international award for story about rape victims being blackmailed

SBS journalist Naomi Selvaratnam has won an international radio award for a story about victims of rape who were blackmailed with video footage of their attacks.

Assault & Blackmail I The Feed

A growing number of Australian women are being raped and blackmailed with video footage of their attack, and police say women from migrant backgrounds are the main targets.

SBS reporter Naomi Selvaratnam took out gold for Best Human Interest Story at the New York Festival’s International Radio Awards.

The awards ceremony honours outstanding radio journalism in all lengths and formats from radio stations and independent producers from around the world.

Naomi’s feature story 'Blackmailed: Sexual assault victims held to ransom with footage of their rape' tells the personal journey to recovery of two Australian rape victims, who were threatened by the release of video footage of their attacks.

As the story reveals, this issue is increasingly facing women from non-English speaking backgrounds.

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The story produced for SBS World News Radio is also a finalist in the Radio/Audio Journalism category at the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards to be announced on July 29.

The story also appeared in video form on the popular nightly news program The Feed.

Naomi Selvaratnam began her career as a reporter and newsreader at SBS World News Radio. In 2013 Naomi completed her cadetship at SBS, working in television, radio and online.

Fellow SBS World News reporter, Kristina Kukolja was a finalist in the 'Heroes' category at the New York awards ceremony for her story, 'Gone to meet her saviour: Vietnamese refugee reunites with her cargo ship rescuer.


2 min read

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Source: SBS


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