Jess Malcolm of University of Melbourne has won the 2020 Student Journalist of the Year award for ‘Meet the bee brokers: "You never stop learning about bees, they're just incredible"', published in Guardian Australia.
Judges' citation
Exploring the work of beekeepers who muster and rent out billions of bees along the east coast of Australia for Australian agriculture, Jess produced an outstanding feature on a fascinating topic about which little is known.
With great research, attention to detail and commitment during COVID-19 travel restrictions, she told a beautiful story which touched on a range of important issues in regional Victoria. A truly compelling piece of storytelling.
The winning entry
Jess Malcolm, University of Melbourne, Guardian Australia, Meet the bee brokers: ‘You never stop learning about bees, they’re just incredible’
Highly Commended
Gillian Aeria, Monash University, The Junction, Size me up: The need for women’s tailored football boots
Maggie Zhou, Monash University, Broadsheet, How My Mum’s Lockdown Cookouts With Relatives in China Helped Me Connect to My Cultural and Culinary Roots
Other Finalists
Abbir Dib, RMIT, SBS Dateline, Lebanon on the brink: Starvation looms amid economic collapse
Vanessa di Natale, University of Melbourne, The Mandarin, Legal representation for people with disabilities is shockingly low when appealing NDIS decisions
Alexandra Middleton, RMIT, Shorthand, Regional, Rural and Remote Women Need Resources to Fight Family Violence
The MPC Student Journalist of the Year prize is a trip to the United States to attend the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference in June 2021 (COVID-19 pending). Winners also receive a $1,000 cash prize and a free 365 day membership with the Melbourne Press Club.
The Melbourne Press Club is grateful for the support of the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas in delivering the 2020 prize.