Powerful journalism exposes Australia’s Stolen Generations and child rights crises
The 2025 Plan Media Awards for Children’s Rights have honoured two standout pieces of journalism. Barbara Schechtner of Die Presse took the top prize for her investigation into Australia's 'Stolen Generations'. Meanwhile, Zoran Dobric from ORF secured second place with his documentary Kinder ohne Zukunft (Children Without a Future).
Schechtner’s winning report, Australia’s Stolen Children, examines the lasting effects of policies that removed Indigenous children from their families. Her work combines personal testimonies with historical research, exposing a painful chapter often ignored in mainstream discussions. Experts now warn that the trauma of these forced separations still echoes today, with fears of a new 'stolen generation' emerging under current child welfare practices.
Schechtner’s award-winning investigation and Dobric’s documentary now join a growing body of work that demands accountability for children’s rights violations. The recognition from the Plan Media Awards ensures these stories reach wider audiences. Both journalists have contributed to a deeper understanding of how past and present policies shape young lives.
