Amy McQuire's 'Black Witness' shortlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize

Congratulations to Amy McQuire on being shortlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize for her book, Black Witness.

The Stella Prize celebrates the work of Australian women and non-binary authors, encompassing all genres, from fiction and non-fiction to poetry and graphic novels. To be eligible, books must have been published within the previous calendar year.

The 2025 shortlist is a testament to the integrity, compassion, and fearless creativity of these authors, and it underscores the continuing importance of the Stella Prize in amplifying diverse literary voices. As the prize grows in influence and reach, it remains a pivotal platform for the narratives that shape Australia’s literary landscape. Black Witness by Amy McQuire is one of this years shortlisted books:

A searing indictment of the media’s failures in reporting Indigenous affairs – and a powerful corrective that shows how Black journalism can pave the way for equality and justice.

From one of this country’s leading Indigenous journalists comes a collection of fierce and powerful essays proving why the media needs to believe Black Witnesses.

Amy McQuire has been writing on Indigenous affairs since she was 17 years old. Over the past two decades, she has reported on most of the key events involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including numerous deaths in custody, the Palm Island uprising, the Bowraville murders and the Northern Territory Intervention. She has also exposed the misrepresentations and violence of the mainstream media’s reports, as well as their omissions and silences altogether in regards to Indigenous matters.

Black Witness showcases how journalism can be used to hold the powerful to account and make the world a more equitable place. This is the essential collection that we need right now – and always have.

The judges had this to say regarding Black Witness:

McQuire’s debut non-fiction is a must-read for all engaged citizens, especially journalists who want to represent the fullness of contemporary Australia.

The winner of the 2025 Stella Prize will be announced on Friday 23 May, as part of the Sydney Writers Festival at Carriageworks. For the first time in Stella Prize history, members of the public can join the judges on this monumental night, to honour the incredible talent of this year’s longlisted, shortlisted and winning authors.

Tickets are available here.