The Kennedy Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to excellence in Australian journalism. It does so via its annual national media awards, a scholarship and mentoring program for young aspiring journalists and a charitable wing that supports media workers and their families in hardship. The Foundation became a registered charity in 2014. The Foundation also runs a media club for events, discussions and debate on crucial media issues featuring our very best journalists and media workers.We are dedicated to supporting free and independent media that supports the public interest, underpins a healthy democracy and acts with the highest ethical principles.We support diversity in all its forms and especially seek to assist young aspiring journalists to achieve their aspirations and goals.We honour the professions' past in a spirit of celebration, compassion and collegiality and seek to be an influential voice in the future of Australia's media industry.The Kennedy Awards were born in 2013 and have quickly gone from strength to strength - attracting more than 600 entries a year from the finest journalists in Australia vying to win some of the 34 different award categories.A decade later the Kennedys have become the Australian media's night of nights - celebrated for their inclusiveness, independence, and respect for the past and for fostering the next generation of the nation's finest journalists.Our success is not only built upon, but is reflected by, the sponsors that have supported us.