Megan Plotka

Megan is a passionate, hard-working and well-rounded journalist and filmmaker with a keen interest in telling character-driven, hard-hitting and investigative-leaning stories. These experiences have allowed Plotka to polish, directing, editing and production skills. She is also highly qualified for on screen roles, producing opportunities and fact checking. As a documentary director, she's won several audience and jury awards for her film "CANS Can't Stand." The film follows a group of Black transwomen working to remove an oppressive statute, Crime Against Nature by Solicitation (CANS), from Louisiana state law. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, it was recently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and it's streaming on The New Yorker. As a reporter, Plotka focuses on personal stories that shed light on institutional issues. She pursued the unemployment benefits crisis in Alabama. She uncovered that tens of thousands of people are still waiting for their benefits, some have been waiting since 2020. Plotka's reporting yields results, the subjects in her story received their unemployment checks following her story. One was waiting for over a year while trying to support a family of five. Plotka notably spearheaded an investigation into the mysterious death of Travis Banks in the Guntersville jail. She helped uncover the inconsistencies in the police report about his death, explain the complex lawsuit to the public and help the Banks family find answers. She reported on the high turnover rate of teachers and staff within the Huntsville City Schools system. This project showcased her ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data, unveiling a historically high rate of resignations in the school system. Her collaborative and organizational skills came to the forefront during a radon-level investigation, where she coordinated data collection with approximately 30 participants. She orchestrated a multi-step process involving meticulous planning, data gathering and analysis. The investigation revealed a high level of radon in a popular apartment complex in the growing city of Huntsville. This initiative demonstrated her ability to manage complex projects, work harmoniously with diverse stakeholders, and transform data into actionable insights. When Plotka wasn't reporting, she anchored and produced the WAFf weekend morning shows on a fill-in basis. Previously, Plotka worked as an Associate Producer with WDSU News in New Orleans, where she was a key asset to the morning show team. She produced the 4:30 a.m. show and extended hurricane and emergency traffic coverage while bringing breaking news and enterprise stories to the station.