Commencing in 2012, named in honour of Indigenous journalist Les Kennedy[1] (1958–2011)[2] in the year after his death, the intention was to stage an event in NSW equivalent to journalism awards in other states and territories.
The Kennedy Foundation was created as a charitable organisation on 7 March 2014 in order to attract funds for the awards and other endeavours, including providing scholarships for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander journalists.
[6] In 2021–2022 the Kennedy Foundation entered a sponsorship deal with an organisation calling itself the Australian Journalists Association, which was exposed as a front for an organisation of dubious integrity, the Journalists First Inc., a small group of conservative political operatives based in Queensland which spread anti-vaccination and other controversial information.
[8] The foundation is a strong advocate for cultural and gender diversity in media.
[4] The main prize is Journalist of the Year (won by women in seven out of the nine events after 2012).