Elizabeth Bailes

A seachanger hailing originally from the Central Coast of NSW, Elizabeth Bailes moved to this state to escape Sydney's size and smog. She started her Bachelor of Arts at the University of NSW and finished it at UTAS, majoring in Journalism and English. Discovering a love of radio – care of the School of Journalism's Liz Tynan – she hung around the Edge Radio studio bunch, running an arts show and even winning the competition to name the station. With a musician background, Elizabeth spent time as a music critic for The Mercury and completed a working fellowship with ABC Classic FM in Adelaide. She spent three years on the "dark side" of public relations as the Media Officer for the University of Tasmania. Since Easter 2007 she has been the Deputy Editor of Tasmanian lifestyle magazine Tasmanian Life.

Jane Bestwick

Jane Bestwick graduated in 2001 with a double major in Journalism & Media Studies. She has since worked in television and radio, electronic media and public relations. During her degree she wrote fortnightly articles on the Tasmanian real estate market for Fairfax’s F2 (Sydney Morning Herald). She started at HO-FM in the last semester of her second year, as a reporter and newsreader. During her third year of study she worked at the ABC assisting with producing the Local Grandstand sports radio program. In early 2002 she started as a full-time television reporter and presenter at WIN Television. During the next three years, she worked as a general news and sports journalist, a national news producer, and local sports presenter (shared with Alister Nicholson). In mid-2005 Jane started as a Public Relations Consultant at Corporate Communications. Jane is currently working at the ABC in Hobart.

Rowan Dix

Rowan Dix describes Journalism as “one of the most…interesting, …practical, ‘hands on’, and creative subjects around.” He particularly enjoyed the practical elements of the course such as TV placement and working (reading the news) on Edge Radio. This practical experience cemented his preference for a career in television or radio. After graduating, Rowan was soon offered a casual traineeship in the ABC Hobart newsroom. In March 2006, he was offered a full-time position with the ABC based in Burnie. As the only ABC news reporter in the North West, he has had many unique opportunities to expand his career portfolio (he has interviewed both John Howard and Kevin Rudd several times, as well as covered the Beaconsfield Mine disaster). Rowan notes that he is “very grateful for the enthusiasm and skills the university gave me, and the passion that its lecturers show in nurturing people's

Jeff Donne

Jeff Donne is currently in the final year of his BA, majoring in Journalism and International Relations. He has also been awarded a scholarship by the BookEnd Trust to assist the filming of scientists placing GPS tracking devices on great white sharks. Jeff’s interest in Journalism began 8 years ago when he was offered work leading a census of chimpanzee populations in Uganda. It was during this period that he began writing, and subsequently began university study.  Three years into his degree, Jeff has accumulated two scholarships for journalism, a finalist’s place in a national journalism competition, and is now writing for a state newspaper. He also aims to do some science and nature writing.

Pip Duncan

After completing her studies in 2003, Phillipa Duncan began working as a cadet journalist with The Examiner. Here, she worked on picture stories, sports reports and regional news, and worked as photographer, chief of staff, driver, editorial assistant and journalist. In late 2004, Pip went to Denmark for five weeks on a professional Rotary exchange. In 2005 she moved to Hobart to cover State politics, and later moved to The Mercury, where she continued to cover State politics. Pip is now working with the ABC in Hobart.

Lauren Gleeson

Lauren Gleeson completed her BA (JMC) in 2005, and her Masters of Journalism in 2007. Lauren was named winner of the ‘Health policy, health innovation or science issues’ category in the National Press Club of Australia’s Excellence in Student Journalism Awards 2006. Moving to Sydney, she completed the final year of her Masters part-time while also pursuing a career in public relations, working full-time as PR Coordinator for Weight Watchers Australasia. As a member of this global company, Lauren had daily contact with major metropolitan and regional media. She has also managed a number of events, including the company’s major annual enrolment driver, Slimmer of the Year. This event involved signing sponsors (e.g. Ford, MBF health, Fosters and Puma) as well as a major media push through both print and broadcast outlets. Partnerships with Channel Nine’s A Current Affair and Woman’s Day magazine have seen a significant uplift in member attendance. Lauren plans to stay in this position until February 2009, after which she will head overseas (Canada, New York and Europe). Lauren hopes that her travelling experiences will pave the way for future career opportunities as an environmental journalist.

Chris Johnson

After completing a qualification in audio engineering, Chris Johnson enrolled in a BA in 2000, majoring in Journalism and Media Studies and Human Geography.  By 2002, Chris was volunteering with the newly-established Edge Radio.  Edge was granted a permanent broadcast licence in late 2002, and Chris was soon appointed station manager. After less than a year, Edge was named national community station of the year, and received other awards for outstanding contribution to local music, excellence in spoken word broadcasting and for station promotion. Edge Radio remains an essential part of Hobart’s youth culture and media scene.

Nicola Karpeles

Nicola Karpeles completed her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2002, and began her Masters in Journalism in 2003. In 2002 she was a foundation anchor for the award-winning journalism show Journalists on the Edge (JOTE). During her Masters, Nicola was awarded a nationally competitive six-month internship to work for the German broadcasting corporation Deutsche Welle. Once back in Tasmania, Nicola began work with the ABC as a television and radio journalist, based in Launceston. Nicola now works for the Launceston City Council.

Melissa Lyne

Melissa Lyne graduated in 2003 with degrees in Science and Arts. She won a postgraduate scientific communication scholarship to the Australian National University, and worked as a travelling science presenter with Questacon, She then moved to the Bureau of Meteorology as education and public affairs officer. This varied role included visiting schools to give talks and organise weather activities, assisting and participating in national and international conferences and events, writing media releases and assisting with ministerial briefs, and writing, editing and creating layout for the Bureau’s internal magazine “Weather News”. Melissa notes that JMC’s internship program, particularly, prepared her for the ‘working-world and taught her the fundamentals of writing, presenting, dealing with the media and organising media events. 

Kath Martin

Kath Martin graduated in 2001, travelling to Perth where she worked as Documentary Researcher and Coordinator with Prospero Productions (she worked on two wildlife series for Discovery UK and ABC Australia). After this, she worked for the Seven Network’s My Restaurant Rules. Moving to Sydney in 2005, she was employed with Beyond Productions (responsible for Mythbusters and Beyond Tomorrow). She also worked as an international researcher for the Discovery US series Things You Love to Hate. During 2005, she worked on Border Security for the Seven Network, before returning to Tasmania. 

Karl (centre) pictured with fellow BookEnd Trust Scholarship winners Jeff Donne (left) and Ninna Millikin (right).

Karl Mathieson

BookEnd Trust Scholarship in Environmental Communication

When Karl Mathieson finished school in Hobart, he “developed a perennially itchy foot” which sent him “on a long (but eventually circular) path through world travels and interstate studies”.  After finishing a Political Science major at Melbourne University, Karl travelled abroad, working, surfing and reading newspapers, eventually landing back in Tasmania “inspired to go down the bumpy journalistic road”.  After completing the first semester of his Masters, Karl was “lucky enough to be awarded one of three inaugural scholarships by the Bookend Trust.  The Trust gives students of journalism an opportunity to work on an environmental communications project.  The general public are often not aware of the interesting and important scientific and conservation projects being carried out in their own backyards.  Boffins are often not trained (or necessarily interested) in communicating their work to ordinary folk.  Not only does this have negative effects on public awareness, but also funding issues for projects can arise.”  Karl and Ninna Millikin have been asked to work together on promoting the orphaned and injured wildlife program at Bonorong Conservation Centre.  Karl works as a wildlife keeper at Bonorong so he has a particular interest and passion for this project: “Our aim will be to create an accessible and interesting website from which people (and particularly school children) will be able to find out about the program and the conservation issues which make it important.”  Karl would like to continue on in the journalism field. As well as environmental and scientific communications, Karl is “very interested in using travel journalism as a vehicle for telling stories from the beautiful, imperfect world we inhabit.”

Barbara McGregor (nee Buckingham)

Barbara McGregor graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Journalism and Political Science.  She spent six months as Public Relations officer for Quit Tasmania (where she had been working part-time since her university placement). She then worked as a journalist with The Advertiser, a regional Victorian newspaper, where she covered all news areas (including politics, court, human interest, and sport); she also edited the newspaper for a short time. Barbara returned to Tasmania in 2003, where she began work as PR Officer with Aurora Energy. In addition to media duties, she assists with sponsorships (primarily Aurora Stadium) and has developed the company’s Safety in Schools program. 

Damian McIver

Damian McIver is currently a postgraduate with JMC. He began his studies in 2002, majoring in Journalism and Political Science. During his undergraduate degree, his work was published online and on air, and he regularly contributed to Edge Radio. Six months after completing his degree, he was writing for an English language magazine in Budapest on a wide range of issues relating to Hungary and the EU. Since returning to Australia, Damian has completed his Honours in JMC (during which he “had the rare joy of studying Today Tonight for a whole year”). Damian is now working towards his PhD, and also tutors in a number of undergraduate units in the JMC program. He is also working on the online launch of Togatus, the university’s student magazine.

Danielle McKay

Ninna Millikin

Ninna Millikin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Spanish, History and Literature from the University of New South Wales in 2001 (which included an exchange program to Santiago, Chile).  She relocated from Sydney to Hobart in early 2008, and began postgraduate studies in JMC shortly after. She recently received a BookEnd Trust Scholarship, to work collaboratively on a multimedia project highlighting the work of carers of injured and orphaned animals at Bonorong Wildlife Conservation Centre.  Ninna has worked as an educator of people with disabilities, English as a second language, and learning difficulties, and has travelled widely, including Australia, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Ninna aims to work in the media producing meaningful, character-based features across new and traditional media forms.

Mel Page

I graduated from Masters in Journalism and Media Studies in 2004, after completing an undergraduate major in Journalism and Media Studies in my Arts degree. When Edge Radio acquired its permanent licence in 2003 I discovered I could combine my new found passion, community radio, with my love of Tasmanian original music. I have hosted Edge Radio’s flagship Tassie music show for almost three years and in that time interviewed countless artists about what makes them tick. My dedication to supporting local artists and providing a platform for them to showcase their works saw me fill the position of Southern Manager of TasMusic in early 2005, helping to co-ordinate events such as the state wide TasMusic Rock Challenge. From 2003 to 2005 I was the Chair of Programming at Edge Radio, co-ordinating each new schedule and helping to develop new programs and the on-air sound of Edge Radio through training and new policies and initiatives. I am now the Vice President of Tasmanian Youth Broadcasters (TYB Inc) and the Women’s Representative for the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia National Committee. I relish improving and building upon my production skills and have kept myself busy working casually as a Promo Producer for ABC local; as a News Editor, supervising radio journalism students with interviewing and editing; writing articles for local publications including Buzz Magazine and Togatus; producing radio packages including a gambling series for the DHHS; and producing live broadcasts including The Falls Festival Marion Bay (04-05), the Royal Hobart Show, and Dis O Week. I am also an Amrap Music Correspondent, producing radio documentaries on local music that are aired nationally.

Maria Rae

I started studying my journalism major in 2001 at the University of Tasmania as part of my Bachelor of Arts degree. Two years into my degree The Examiner newspaper employed me as a cadet journalist to be based in their Launceston office. I moved up North but still continued to finish my degree part-time over two years. In the three years I have worked at The Examiner I have reported on general, sports, business and arts news. I also spent six months on the Sunday Examiner as a feature writer. In 2003 I won the Tasmanian Cadet of the Year award for my work covering courts.

I have now been working in The Examiner’s Hobart bureau for the past two years reporting on politics. During that time I have written about a Federal Election, the death of former Premier Jim Bacon and the State Budget. In 2005 I was promoted to chief political reporter. The University of Tasmania’s journalism major was a great grounding for print journalism. It provided me with the practical skills and confidence I needed to do the job I am in now.

Ellen Salathiel

Three years ago, Ellen Salathiel and her partner were living in Melbourne and hating their jobs. “We decided to quit and travel around Australia, and I encouraged him to apply to go to university. He got an offer from UTAS, so we decided to make the move to Hobart”. While Ellen’s partner loved being at uni, Ellen realised that her job as a paralegal did not use any of the skills gained from her undergraduate degree in Media Arts. Ellen decided to enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Journalism: “It was definitely one of the best decisions I had made in long time. I loved being back in a learning environment, and really enjoyed the coursework. My lecturers and classmates were a pleasure to work with.  Being awarded the Unitas internship has been a fantastic experience for me, mainly because it has given me the chance to develop my professional skills – not only writing, but also interviewing and networking – in a familiar environment. I also get to meet a lot of different people around UTAS and find out about all of the amazing study and research that gets done here in Tassie. On top of that, it’s a real boost to be able to build a portfolio of published articles. As well as the internship, I am currently working part-time towards my Masters in Journalism, tutoring in journalistic ethics, and working in media two days a week. Much more satisfying than my old desk job!”

Linda Smith (nee Pace)

I graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 (with a double major in journalism) and am now working full-time as a journalist at The Mercury newspaper. I scored a casual job at The Mercury in my final year of uni while on a student placement at the paper. I began working as a copy messenger (gopher) - the starting point for many journalists - and worked from 5pm-midnight before moving into a full-time day position. I then worked full-time as the chief of staff’s assistant for over 12 months where I monitored news, e-mails and media releases, and took calls from members of the public regarding possible stories. These positions taught me a lot about how the newspaper operates and gave me an opportunity to have lots of stories published. I landed a one-year cadetship in August 2004, and am now a graded journalist. I was named Tasmanian Cadet Journalist of the Year for 2004 and was shortlisted in the national 2005 News Limited Awards. During my time at The Mercury I have reported on everything from general news, police rounds and politics to entertainment, sport and popular culture. I spent some time as editor of country publication The Derwent Valley Gazette, have worked on our weekly music and entertainment section, Pulse, and have covered The Falls Festival for the last two years. I also write a weekly small business column, a weekly political commentary/gossip column called Insider, was appointed to the political round last March and have also done some travel writing.

Nyssa Skilton

Nyssa Skilton graduated from mechanical engineering in 2006, as well as completing a Bachelor of Arts at the same time. Since graduating, she has worked at The Advocate as a journalist covering the North West coast, before moving to Canberra to work for The Canberra Times. This newspaper has specific news rounds – including science – so she will be able to put her engineering know-how to good use.

Emily Sonners

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007, majoring in Journalism, Media and Communications and Behavioural Science, Emily Sonners became the inaugural holder of he Beyond PR Scholarship and Internship in Journalism, Media and Communications. The internship involves working full-time as an Associate Consultant at Beyond PR, and undertaking postgraduate study (the Graduate Certificate in JMC) part-time. At Beyond PR, Emily specialises in monitoring and managing news, assisting consultants in all aspects of media relations including writing editorial for newspapers and industry publications, as well as organising media conferences and events for a diverse range of clients. She also delivers client services in the areas of publications and research. Emily describes her work with Beyond PR as “an exciting experience offering the opportunity to work directly with the media and take on high levels of responsibility. The friendly, small-team environment means that there is a major focus on learning and something is always on ‘the go’.”

Olivia Richardson (nee Vidakovic)

My journalism career started because of an assignment for Advanced Print [now called Feature Writing]. I had to critique a magazine and I chose one I’d never seen before called Women’s Fitness and Health. I e-mailed the editor about the target market, circulation, etc., and then one week later I e-mailed her again and asked more questions (not even mentioning anything about writing for them) and she asked me if I’d like to give an article a crack with no guarantees of publication. Talk about a surprise! So I did, they liked it, used it and I continued to write for them for three years (six stories unpaid, then $60 and $100 a story) until one day they rang me out of the blue and asked if I’d like to be the editor of Australian Natural Health magazine! I of course said YES and moved to Melbourne straight away!

Now I’m also editor of New You magazine and a freelancer for Studio Bride, Melbourne Bride and Wedding (I got married recently!) and Priceline’s ClubMag magazine. I also proofread for Victorian PostCards, Triathlon and Multi-Sport, Soccer International, Australian Ironman, Women’s Fitness and Health, Blitz (martial arts mag.) and GOLF (they’re all in the same company as me). I’ve also done some company websites and profiles and other odd jobs. I love journalism and am so grateful to the amazing teachers at the Uni of Tas for helping me get to where I am today!

Amber Wilson

I knew I wanted to be a writer at a very young age after picking up my first Enid Blyton novel, but it was after completing a degree in Philosophy and Political Science at UTas that I knew I wanted to work as a journalist. So I enrolled in a Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies and learnt about sourcing and articulating information. This course was vastly different from my undergrad degree as it was hands-on and practical and really added to the theoretical information I’d learnt. I am now working as a cadet journalist in a regional newspaper, where my day is as varied as interviewing the fashion model of the year to more serious matters like investigating the aftermath of flood rains or road deaths. All the skills I learnt at uni, like ways to tackle tricky concepts, organisation and meeting deadlines, contributing to discussion and critical analysis, are all skills I now use in daily life as a reporter.

Eliza Wood

I grew up on a farm on the North West Coast of Tasmania and studied Journalism, History and English at the University of Tasmania’s Hobart campus. After graduating in December 2004, I moved back to the coast and began a cadetship with The Advocate newspaper in Burnie. During my time there I reported on daily rounds, court, rural issues and local news. I benefited greatly from being “thrown in” somewhat at the deep end, and being required to write for all parts of the paper. After 11 months with The Advocate I applied for a position with the ABC as a Rural Reporter in the Burnie office, and was fortunate enough to get the job. My role involves sourcing rural stories from the North-West and West Coasts, recording radio interviews, writing daily for ABC Online, and presenting an early morning 20-minute rural report.