Australian journalist RUSSELL GOULD honoured.

"We at the "Sunday Herald Sun" are proud that one of our finest cutting edge investigative reporters has been nominated for this year's Pulitzer prize. Only 3 months ago Russell was the humble tea lady at the Sunday Herald Sun. Fortunately Fuhrer Rupert is a man who knows talent when it spills a piping hot cup of Earl Grey into his lap. I still recall the fateful words from Sir Murdoch that would catapult Russell into his current position. "Gould, you are a totally incompetent fuckwit, you're not a tea lady's bootlace ... get the Newsroom with the other dickheaded hacks!"

Since then Russell hasn't looked back. Some of our readers may recall some of Russell's fine stories. His touching story about "Matey" the one legged canary who was adopted by a flock of wingless blind seagulls. "Brandy" the deaf sheepdog who as a result of donations from our kind readers was able to be flown to Cedar Sinai Medical Center for a cochlear implant. "Neville" the swimming-challenged guppy who after spending a week at the Australian Institute of Sport was accepted into the Olympic synchronised swimming squad.

We are confident that Russell will bring home the bacon and show to the World that the legacy of Mercury is in safe hands. Good luck Russell, it's all now in the lap of the Gods. (Which reminds me that despite this exalted honour, Russell is still a team player, albeit the one member of the team who is not allowed anywhere near the tea urn.)"

Russell's nominated story.

Jeremy Farcus. Editor Sunday Herald Sun.