2020 Student Journalist of the Year


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

Apply to join the Melbourne Press Club

Membership is $100 for journalists, $150 for associate members and $40 for students.

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