North Queensland's rising star

This year the judges for the 2014 Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship have taken the unusual step of selecting two recipients after being unable to choose between two outstanding finalists.

The award was announced last week in Sydney, as the six finalists including Megan and fellow-winner Kirrily Schwarz were quizzed on career ambitions and knowledge by a high-profile panel of judges including ITV Australia managing director Anita Jacoby, Nine Network director of news and current affairs Darren Wick, and media industry veterans, Tom Krause and Jim Waley.

Ms Jacoby said the six finalists had all impressed judges with their depth of knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm for a career in journalism and choosing a winner was “almost impossible”.

Megan’s by-line will be very familiar to readers of both the North Queensland Register, and Queensland Country life, where she has been a regular contributor for the past two-and a-half-years.

Megan says when she was notified as one of the finalists in the Jacob-Walkely Scholarship a few weeks ago she was absolutely thrilled, but to win is ‘an even greater shock’.

She is in her final year at James Cook University studying Bachelor of Arts, Media, and Writing, and says her defining moment to switch to journalism was in her second semester of her first year at university.

“I had enrolled to study a dual Bachelor Arts/Law degree which included some journalism subjects,” Megan said.

“However it was child protection week and I went on assignment and met with high profile couple Bruce and Denise Morcombe.

“I found the journalism subjects far more exciting as we did something different all the time and certainly meet some very interesting people along the way.”

A proud North Queenslander, Megan has lived in Richmond since she was 10-years-old, and comes from a strong rural background, which she believes held in her good stead while working on the North Queensland Register.

The annual scholarship was established in 2013 with the generous support of Anita Jacoby in honour of her father Phillip, a pioneer in the broadcasting industry.

Both winners will spend eight weeks at the Nine Network in Sydney working on 60 Minutes, A Current Affair, Today and in the newsroom, and four weeks at The Walkley Foundation for Journalism.

They will also be mentored by senior journalists on the Walkley Advisory Board and work with and learn from some of Australia’s leading news and current affairs journalists and producers.

“I will be in Sydney from September until December, and really want to make the most of this 12 weeks experience,” Megan said.

Ms Jacoby said Megan’s warm personality, passion for news and instinctive storytelling abilities meant she would be a “real journalistic force” in the years to come, while Kirrily’s natural intelligence, depth of general knowledge and inquiring nature meant she was also assured of a fantastic career.

“Megan and Kirrily both display a great passion for ideas, sourcing talent and storytelling – the lifeblood of all good journalism,” Ms Jacoby said.

Meanwhile fellow judge Darren Wick, said Megan’s attitude to journalism could be summed up in one word: “Hunger”.

“She wants to chase stories, she has a burning desire to get the story and broadcast it first,” Mr Wick said.

“This is what every executive producer and news director looks for in a reporter.”

He said while the winners had different personalities, both stood out for their tenacity and “sheer desire to tell a story – both in the submissions they entered and during their interviews as finalists”.

“They both deserved to win … I believe both women will derive enormous benefit and inspiration from their scholarships,” Mr Wick said.

“This experience, I believe, will be the springboard for wonderful careers”.