Judges chose two winners for the scholarship, unable to decide between Miss Schwarz, a Deakin University student, and James Cook University’s Megan Stafford. 

Miss Schwarz said her entry was prompted from a news piece she submitted for a university assessment.

“It was an assignment for the final unit in my journalism major of my arts degree,” she said.

Judge and Nine Network director of news and current affairs Darren Wick said Miss Schwarz’s success was a result of her intelligence and curiosity.

“She needs to find out why something happened, is it still happening and what forces are at play that could determine whether it will happen again,” he said. 

“She is a natural investigator.”

Fellow judge and ITV Australia managing director Anita Jacoby said Miss Schwarz’s natural intelligence, depth of general knowledge and inquiring nature meant she was also assured of a fantastic career.

The Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship is a paid internship that offers applicants the chance to work with and learn from some of Australia’s leading news and current affairs journalists and producers.

Miss Schwarz will spend eight weeks at the Nine News Network in Sydney and four weeks at The Walkley Foundation for Journalism.

She will also be mentored by senior journalists on the Walkley Advisory Board and participate in a television production course.

Miss Schwarz said she hoped the scholarship would provide a window into the news media industry. 

“I’ve always wanted to work in television and hopefully this scholarship will be a great platform to further my career,” she said.