Fairfax investigations editor Michael Bachelard and photographer Kate Geraghty have taken out the 2017 Gold Walkley Award for their news coverage of the war in Mosul.
Bachelard's and Geraghty's story Surviving IS: Stories of Mosul, "put a face, a voice, to the victims of war".
"We cooked up a mad idea to go to Mosul," Bachelard said.
"What we found there was incredible, devastating … an appalling waste of human life."
Bachelard said it was the role of journalists to tell such stories.
"What we do is important and I applaud all of you for doing it and I applaud the MEAA and Walkley's for recognising it."
The 62nd annual Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism were held in Brisbane on Wednesday evening.
The ABC had 26 nominations and won eight awards.
ABC TV investigative reporter Louise Milligan took home the Walkley Book Award for her book on Cardinal George Pell.
"Thank you to everyone who told me their truths for this book," Milligan said.
"This book is about children, little kids, who had their innocence stolen in the most unspeakable ways.
"I thank all of them for the bravery and their courage."
Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism
Former political editor Michael Gordon was awarded for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
"I am just overwhelmed, humbled and delighted," Gordon said.
"Tonight I am thinking of my father who was my mate … and my mentor. He would just be over the moon tonight.
"My biggest debt is to those whose stories I've told."
Gordon dedicated his award to Australia's first peoples and those living in detention on Manus Island.
"I share this with them all."
