The touring Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Photojournalism exhibition will go on display at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery on Thursday 7 April at 6.30pm.

This stunning exhibition of news photography will be officially opened by Sunshine Coast Daily editor in chief Jenna Cairney, while multi award-winning photojournalist Rob Maccoll will be the guest speaker.

The Nikon-Walkley Awards are the highest honour in Australian journalism, celebrating excellence across all media since 1956. The photojournalism awards recognise the work of photographers across a range of genres and are judged by a panel of senior photographers and picture editors.

USC Gallery Manager Lou Jaeger said the exhibition celebrated newsworthiness, impact, creativity and technical skill and would appeal to a wide audience.

“Prizes are awarded in a number of categories including news photography, sport, portraits, feature/photo essay and community/regional photography,” she said.

“The photos encompass a range of stories – from politicians to everyday folk, from backyards to the furthest corners of the globe.

“The Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition presents the 2015 finalists and winners and is a great opportunity for the Sunshine Coast community to see the outstanding work of Australia’s top photojournalists.

“Photographers interact with their subjects with perhaps more intimacy than storytellers in any other medium, and the stories they tell can evoke a strong emotional response.”

The exhibition will continue at the USC Gallery until Saturday 14 May 2016. It is the final showing of this touring exhibition that has been displayed only in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Brisbane.

The gallery is located at the University campus on Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs. It is open free to the public from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and closed Sundays and public holidays.

— Terry Walsh