About me

I am a trained senior lecturer and award-winning investigative journalist who has worked in senior editorial roles for leading news websites and newspapers.  My two-decade journalistic career began at Nature magazine, and I have worked across a range of media in TV news, online and print.   

As head of journalism at Murdoch University, I run the course across two countries and I have been awarded a Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy. 

As a freelance reporter, I regularly cover politics, courts, equity, health, and environmental issues. My stories have investigated asbestos contamination in Wittenoom, groundwater mining and state homelessness and are often published internationally.

I sit on various boards including The Junction Journalism and Murdoch University’s Singapore Academic Board. 

Some of my published journalistic works can be found here:

Þ                https://www.thguardian.com/profile/narelle-towie

Þ                https://www.perthnow.com.au/profile/narelle-towie

Þ                https://thewest.com.au/profile/narelle-towie

Þ                https://muckrack.com/narelle-towie/articles

Þ                https://www.watoday.com.au/by/narelle-towie-hveyi

 

Links

Young people hate making phone calls – could it be hurting their careers?
Are you suffering from telephobia? New research shows it is on the rise
Laura Murphy-Oates speaks to reporter Narelle Towie on Mark McGowan's rise to national prominence and resignation.
When four-year-old Australian girl, Cleo Smith, disappeared at a campsite in Western Australia, a massive police rescue
Published work in: The Guardian, Nature, Sydney Morning Herald, News.com.au, Fairfax etc.

Awards

WA Media Awards nomination for Feature Writing - The Hugh Schmitt Prize
MEAA, 27/09/2024
WA Media Awards Freelance Journalist (TEXT FORMAT) nomination
MEAA, 27/09/2024
Nominated for The Hugh Schmitt Prize Feature Writing Award at the 2022 WA Media Awards.
MEAA WA Media Awards, 12/11/2022
All Media Best Freelancer nomination for reports that put WA issues in the national spotlight at the 2022 WA Media Awards.
MEAA WA Media Awards, 12/11/2022
Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award by Murdoch University (2020).
Murdoch University (Australia, Perth), 2020
Jointly won WA Media Award “Best Multimedia Report” for interactive feature on WAtoday.
MEAA WA Media Awards, 2014
Won the WA Media Award “Best Environment Report for investigative coverage of groundwater pollution in the Perth suburb of Dianella.
MEAA WA Media Awards, 2012
Won Best Science Report across all media at the WA Media Awards for an investigative piece on animal deaths from the Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island
MEAA WA Media Awards, 2012
Won the WA Media Award for Best Travel Writing across all media for a piece on the plight of Borneo’s orang-utans.
MEAA WA Media Awards, 2008

Organisational Affiliations

School of Media and Communication, Murdoch University

Education

Teaching and Learning
2020, Advanced Certificate , Murdoch University (Australia, Perth)

Awarded Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy

Teaching and Learning
2019, Certificate, Murdoch University (Australia, Perth)

Awarded Associate Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy

Communication / Journalism
2000, B. Arts Communication, Murdoch University (Australia, Perth)
Multimedia
1998, Diploma, Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Western Australia