One of Australia’s leading sports journalists, Jacquelin Magnay, was awarded at the PyeongChang Olympic Games today with a ceremony to celebrate her twelfth Olympic Games.
In a world where Instagram influencers are king and branded PR content rules on social media, independent journalism still counts at big events such as the Olympics where stories are there to be broken. No one knows this more than veteran journalist, Jacquelin Magnay, whose first Olympics was in Atlanta in 1996.
The sports focused journalist started her cadetship at St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in Sydney, then worked briefly at The Australian and Channel 10 before making the move to Fairfax Media where she ruled the sports roost at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Sun Herald.
Magnay moved to the UK in 2009 as the UK Telegraph Media Group’s Olympic Editor for four years leading into the London 2012 Games and has, since 2013, been the European correspondent for The Australian and is reporting for them from PyeongChang.
“My first Olympic games was Atlanta 1996 and my first Winter Olympics was Nagano in 1998” said Magnay at the AIPS (International Sports Press Association) award ceremony today for journalists who have covered 6 or more Winter Games. She personally received the award from Princess Nora of Liechtenstein.
“Nagano was special because it was my first experience of the winter games and I have fond memories of snow caves, sake, and Australia’s first winter medal , a bronze won by Zali Steggall in the slalom. That was quite a thrill.
But my 12 are only about half of what the very experienced veterans have done. Three photographers have done 13 Winter Games!”
It is easy to see why Magnay is the top in her field. Standing with her in the Mixed Zone at these games and working side by side in the press centre has given me even more insight to what true Walkley award winning sports journalism takes. You are never too old to watch and learn those more experienced than your self and you don’t get more experienced in PyeongChang than Magnay.
A thick skin, a dogged grit and a determination to get both sides of the story are just three elements shared by many in the media. An ability to work at premium level on little sleep is another, then add a diet of coffee and sugar. Magnay has all and then some.
But you can’t have the ‘please like me gene’ if you want to survive at Magnay’s level because you’re searching for the truth, not the PR fluff story, and not everyone likes the truth so you will, no doubt, upset some while uplifting others. This is what makes Magnay great. Finding the truth, holding onto it, revealing it and standing strong in the uproar that inevitably follows.
In 1993 Magnay demanded that female reporters receive access to after game locker rooms for interviews. What followed was a barrage of sexist abuse from male commentators.
She successfully went through the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, forcing public apologies to be issued by the Balmain Rugby League Club. The change leader went on to win a Walkley Award for her work on the AIS cyclist drug scandal and has received numerous commendations and Walkley finalist nominations since.
But winter sports remains a favourite for this snow loving journo who is as happy on skis as she is in the press pen.
“Salt Lake City was also memorable because of Stephen Bradbury’s shock victory, but those Games also had lots of atmosphere” reminisces Magnay.
“Every night there was a crowded celebration at the medals plaza with big name rock bands and the party would continue long into the night. With Australian deadlines I think I broke the Olympic record for lack of sleep.”
