With over five years experience in the industry, I have honed my skills and passion as a journalist. My career began in radio working for 102.9 Hot Tomato on the Gold Coast, where I conducted live radio crosses, managed social media presence and hosted outside broadcasts. From there, I embarked on a dynamic career path managing the 10 News First Regional Queensland newsroom as a presenter, producer and journalist, delivering local news updates. I continued to excel in my role as a TV presenter and reporter at 7 Tasmania News, covering significant national events, even serving as newsreader and sport presenter for the 6pm bulletin.
7 Tasmania News
Live news discovering in-depth stories covering all aspects of journalism, state wide.
My achievements include being named ‘Best New Journalist’ at the Tasmanian Media Awards this year for my commitment to journalistic excellence in covering national news events including the 2022 floods. Currently at 9 Gold Coast News, I’ve strengthened my skills by sourcing exclusive stories and reporting on local issues with integrity. My drive in this role comes from a commitment to delivering high quality news content and engaging with the community. I am a well-rounded reporter with a strong news judgment, committed to delivering accurate, credible and impactful journalism.
Judges’ comments: Makenna’s entry demonstrated great skill on breaking news and colour. Her stories were sharp and informative. Her live crosses were particularly impressive, given her limited experience. Acknowledging her recent entry to the profession, the limited resources at her disposal and the quality of her work, Makenna was the clear winner of the category. More generally, it was heartening to read Tasmania’s new journalists’ dedication to local news. It was a difficult category to judge, and Tasmanians are well served by their up-and-coming journalists.