Described as the “heart and soul” of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newsroom, Meg Jones left a legacy that was wide and deep — one that reaches well beyond the newspaper to all corners of her home state and to the war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Known for her unparalleled commitment to storytelling, Jones was sincere, naturally curious and connected with everyone she interviewed. Former colleagues said she “made everyone around her feel seen and valued,” both in her everyday life and in her work.
As a general assignment reporter who developed an expertise in covering veterans and the military, Jones made eight reporting trips to the Middle East. Her passion for covering the troops shone through in her work and ongoing correspondence with the many soldiers and families she interviewed over the years. In 2010, the Milwaukee Armed Forces Week Committee honored her with its Citizen Support for Our Armed Services Award.
Her reporting earned numerous awards, including as part of a Journal Sentinel team that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2003 for explanatory reporting. In 2020, the Milwaukee Press Club board voted her into its Hall of Fame and last week launched a scholarship in her honor. Earlier this year, she was posthumously honored with a distinguished service award from the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, her alma mater.
