Insurance News journalist John Deex has won the Engineers Australia journalism award for an article on fire risks in Australian high-rise buildings.

The award includes a $5000 prize and was presented at the National Press Club in Canberra last week.

The winning article, “Hot on a high-rise issue”, was published in Insurance News (the magazine) in June last year.

National Press Club VP and award judge Ken Randall says Mr Deex interviewed an internationally recognised expert on fire safety in building design, Jonathan Barnett.

“The views he elicited represent a serious warning to Australian regulatory authorities, particularly in relation to high-rise buildings. His winning article also illustrates the cumbersome nature of our regulatory system and the urgent need for it to be updated.”

Award winners are selected “based on excellence in reporting, contribution to broadening awareness of engineering issues, originality, incisiveness, ethics, research and production”.

Insurance News Publisher Terry McMullan says the award proves excellence in journalism is not confined to the mainstream media.

“Insurance News journalists write on serious and complex subjects with great skill and objectivity, and it’s nice to have our professional approach to the insurance industry and its issues recognised,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We’re all very proud of John’s achievement.”