Karla Grant has been at the forefront of journalism for decades. She's been recognised with a top award

The Western Arrernte presenter, producer and journalist was recognised for her leadership in Indigenous affairs coverage across more than thirty years in journalism.

Karla Grant speaking on stage after winning a Walkley Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Journalism

An icon of Indigenous media, Karla Grant has been recognised overnight with one of journalism’s highest accolades.

The host and executive producer of Living Black, the country's longest-running Indigenous current affairs program, Grant was honoured with the award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Journalism' at the 68^th Walkley Awards in Sydney on Thursday.

It recognises the 20 years Grant has dedicated to investigating the often-ignored issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

This year, in a break from tradition, the Walkley board decided to award the gong to eight women, as means of redressing the historic lack of honours for high-achieving women in the industry.

Walkley Chair, Adele Ferguson paid tribute to the journalists, praising them as trailblazers with a dogged determination to tell important stories.

'Never in my wildest dreams"

Winners of the Walkley Award for Outstanding Countribution to Journalism including: Kate McClymont, Pamela Williams, Joanne McCarthy, Karla Grant, Colleen Ryan, Geraldine Doogue and Caroline Wilson (not pictured Marian Wilkinson) Credit: Supplied

Dressed in a stunning black dress, with emu feather earrings supplied by Ngumpie Weaving, the NITV and SBS presenter spoke of her honour at receiving the prestigious Walkley award.

“As a young girl growing up in Adelaide I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined standing here accepting this award … let alone working in this industry for as long as I have.”

Grant paid homage to her family and her First Nations community for giving her the courage to pursue her dreams even as she faced stumbling blocks and rejection along the way.

The veteran broadcaster said she is still determined to tell Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories for as long as she can.

“I feel incredibly blessed to be able to provide a voice and platform for my people; to tell their stories, and to be able to highlight the ongoing issues faced by First Australians.”

Meantime, the First Nations Media Awards (FNMA) were also held in Canberra overnight where Karla Grant was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

It was also a big night for the Living Black team with the program receiving two wins at the First Nations Media Awards including gong's for Best News or Current Affairs Program and Best Interview or Oral History.

The team also had a Walkley nomination in the new category of ‘Explanatory Journalism’.

A life in journalism

Journalist Karla Grant in her early career at the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Credit: Supplied

Karla Grant began her career working at a weekly community program at radio station 2XX before moving across to one of Canberra’s leading production houses in the early 1990s where she continued to train and hone her skills.

She had a brief period at Network 10 where she worked as a producer, reporter and presenter on the national program Aboriginal Australia.

But it wouldn’t be until 1995 that Karla made the move to SBS where she first began working the current affairs program ICAM (Indigenous Current Affairs Magazine).

Grant would be appointed Executive Producer of the network’s Indigenous Media Unit in 2002 and it was here that she pitched the current affairs program Living Black to SBS executives.

SBS greenlit the project with the program first airing in February 2003.

Through Living Black, Karla has covered some of the biggest issues facing Australia’s First Nations peoples; including the federal government's notorious intervention in the Northern Territory in 2007, as well as the Apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

She’s also followed closely the constitutional recognition debates throughout the 2010s, including the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s creation and subsequent referendum defeat for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

During this period Karla also worked towards the growth of First Nations journalism, advocating for an Indigenous cadetship program to be created at SBS to help resolve the lack of Indigenous reporters coming into the industry.

Karla Grant seated speaking with his Holiness the Dalai Lama Credit: Supplied

This cadetship program continues 13 years later and has seen many go on to have successful careers across the journalism industry.

Over the last two decades Karla has also spoken with numerous high profile guest including several former Prime Ministers, senior politicians and advisors, The Dalai Lama, along with rockstars, actors, film directors, authors, artists and historians where each has spoken about the importance of Black excellence and how to improve the lives of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

Karla and the Living Black team celebrated the 20^th birthday of the program this year, marking the occasion with a special episode including highlights from the shows history, shoutouts from high profile celebrities, and a forward focussed discussion that considered the future of Indigenous affairs in Australia.