Sharri Markson: Biography, Investigations, and Awards in 2024

She was just 16 when she took her first job as a copy girl at The Sunday Telegraph, a start that would lead to the Walkley Awards and a prime-time seat on Sky News Australia. Sharri Markson has become one of Australia’s most recognised investigative journalists, known for breaking stories that reshaped federal politics.

Full name: Sharri Markson · Born: 8 March 1984 (age 40) · Occupation: Journalist, author · Employer: The Australian, Sky News Australia · Notable book: What Really Happened in the Coalition?

Six key facts, one pattern: Sharri Markson’s career has been defined by a steady climb through the ranks of Australian journalism, with each role building on the last — from copy girl to editor to prime-time host.

Early life and education

Sharri Markson was born on 8 March 1984 to Max Markson, a well-known celebrity promoter, and his wife. She grew up in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and attended Ascham School, an independent girls’ school. Her father’s connections in the entertainment and media world may have shaped her early interest in journalism, but she built her own path from the ground up.

At age 16, while still at school, Markson started as a copy girl at The Sunday Telegraph — a role that involved running errands and assisting reporters. It was an unconventional entry point, but it gave her a front-row seat to the newsroom. She later rose through the ranks to become a political reporter and eventually chief of staff at the same paper, as reported by the Australian Jewish News.

Journalism career

After her early years at The Sunday Telegraph, Markson moved to The Australian as media editor and later became editor of Cleo magazine, according to her ABC Q&A profile. She also worked at Channel Seven as news editor, where she won a Walkley Award for TV news reporting — a detail confirmed by the Walkley Awards.

In 2016, she joined The Daily Telegraph as national political editor, a role that placed her at the centre of federal politics. By 2018, she had launched her own program, Sharri, on Sky News Australia, combining her print investigative work with television. The HarperCollins Canada author page describes her as “The Australian’s investigations writer and host of Sharri on Sky News Australia.”

• Copy girl → chief of staff at The Sunday Telegraph (Australian Jewish News)
• Media editor at The Australian (ABC Q&A)
• Editor of Cleo magazine (ABC Q&A)
• News editor at Channel Seven (ABC Q&A)
• National political editor at The Daily Telegraph (2016) (ABC Q&A)
• Host of Sharri on Sky News Australia (2018–present) (Australian Jewish News)

Major investigations

Markson’s most famous investigation was her reporting on the relationship between then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his staffer Vikki Campion, which led to the revelation that Joyce had fathered a child with Campion. According to the Walkley Awards, her reporting contributed to Joyce’s resignation as deputy prime minister in 2018. The story dominated Australian headlines for weeks and cemented Markson’s reputation as a journalist willing to take on powerful figures.

Her reporting on Barnaby Joyce’s affair and love child contributed to Joyce’s resignation as deputy prime minister.

Walkley Awards citation summary, as reported by the ABC Q&A profile

Beyond the Joyce story, Markson has covered a range of political and investigative topics, including internal Coalition tensions, public service scandals, and the behind-the-scenes workings of Australian politics. Her work often relies on deep sourcing within the federal parliament, a skill honed over years of political reporting.

Awards and recognition

Sharri Markson’s awards are her most tangible credential. The HarperCollins Canada author page lists her as a two-time Walkley Award winner, a winner of the 2018 Sir Keith Murdoch Award for Excellence in Journalism, the 2020 News Award for Investigative Journalism, and a four-time Kennedy Awards winner. She was also joint winner of the 2019 Press Gallery Political Journalist of the Year award.

The Walkley Awards specifically note that she won a Walkley for TV news reporting while at Seven News Sydney. The Australian Jewish News adds that she has won two Walkleys, a Sir Keith Murdoch Award, a 2020 News Award, and four Kennedy Awards, confirming the consistency across sources.

The pattern: Markson’s awards span TV, print, and political coverage, underlining her versatility.

Current role and 2024 status

As of 2024, Sharri Markson continues as investigations writer for The Australian and host of Sharri on Sky News Australia. Her HarperCollins Canada author page remains current, and she is actively publishing book content. Her program airs weeknights, where she often breaks political stories and conducts interviews with key figures.

Markson’s 2024 output includes regular columns and television segments, but specific investigations from this year are not yet publicly catalogued in detail. She remains a prominent voice in Australian conservative media, and her influence in the Canberra press gallery is undisputed.

Clarity section

Quotes

Sharri Markson is The Australian’s investigations writer and host of Sharri on Sky News Australia.

HarperCollins Canada (author page)

Markson’s reporting on Barnaby Joyce’s affair and love child contributed to Joyce’s resignation as deputy prime minister.

ABC Q&A profile

She is the daughter of celebrity promoter Max Markson.

Australian Jewish News

Summary

Sharri Markson’s journey from copy girl at 16 to two-time Walkley winner and prime-time host shows that the traditional path of cadetship and university is not the only route — showing up early, working hard, and building sources can open doors. The trade-off for a career built on scooping rivals is the constant pressure to deliver stories that matter, and the ethical tightrope of relying on deep political sources. For the Australian media landscape, Markson remains a figure who embodies both the rewards and the risks of investigative journalism at the highest level.

Frequently asked questions

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