AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): Outstanding media students and graduates were rewarded for their efforts last night at Auckland University of Technology's annual communication studies awards, with industry representatives on hand to present their sponsored prizes.
Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies journalism graduate Sarah Robson was awarded the Radio New Zealand International Award for Asia-Pacific journalism, which includes a week's internship in the Radio New Zealand bureau in Wellington.
"I’m really excited about spending a week there," she said.
"It will be really exciting to get my teeth into Pacific stories, especially about learning so much on the Asia-Pacific course with Professor David Robie.
"I’ve got a real interest in the Pacific region and in my current job with New Zealand News Wire and AAP there’s actually lots of opportunities to do those sorts of stories for Auckland, so it will be a great work experience."
Manager of Radio New Zealand International Linden Clark presented Robson with the award and said staff were looking forward to welcoming her to the newsroom.
"We’re always delighted to welcome someone who has interest in Pacific journalism because it is such an incredibly important part of New Zealand story-telling," she said.
Krissy Dwyer was awarded an international exchange trip to the Jakarta Globe as part of a joint-project with the Asia New Zealand Foundation and AUT's Pacific Media Centre.
Dwyer is of German heritage and is working on the Eduvac Education Weekly, a newsletter for the education sector. She said she was grateful that both her employer and husband gave her "leave" for the six-week internship.
"Everything is booked, everything is planned – I am German, I’m organised," she said.
"It's a very exciting opportunity of course, being exposed to international reporting. I’d like to do more international reporting so it’s a good first step, so I can’t wait.
As well as the professional experience, Dwyer said she was preparing for the cultural lessons as well.
"I am learning Bahasa Indonesia, and the good thing is I will be fully immersed and staying with a host family with two children, so I am looking forward to that"
Fellow journalism graduates Rosie Tuck and Nigel Moffiet, current editor of Debate magazine, were awarded an internship with the China Daily, and will be departing later in the year for Beijing.
Moffiet thanked the Pacific Media Centre and Asia NZ foundation for the opportunity.
"I'm really keen to learn all I can within a Chinese newsroom and gather as much information as I can from this cultural experience," he said. "I'm also interested in learning about China as it continues to have more influence within New Zealand and the global market."
Earlier in the evening, broadcaster and commentator David Beatson, who was the night's master of ceremonies, warned the audience of the impending move from analogue to digital platforms and what kind of journalists were needed for the future.
"Now, the internet is converging with the traditional top-down mass media to add a fourth dimension to communication – engagement: real engagement with the public we serve," he said.
"For true public accountability, our communities– are going to need skilled practitioners who can provide continual access to information that is credible, verified by multiple sources, and up-to-date.
"Our public as a whole needs communications professionals that communities learn to trust to gather, analyse and disseminate the information that’s important to the way they define, defend and advance their common ground in a well-informed society that participates fully in the processes of democratic government."
Read David Beatson's full speech
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Alex Perrottet
