Journalism students
Rachel Rasker
Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
Producer at the ABC
Central News helped me gain the confidence and news skills to get my current job at the ABC.
How did UTS help you get your current job?
I started interning at Central News in my first few weeks of university. It was a really safe environment to start as there wasn't too much pressure and I could make mistakes and learn from them. I received one on one feedback from the editor Deb and was able to improve my journalism skills. Sometimes we would even go through stories line by line which massively helped my news writing. Talking through stories with her also aided my editorial judgment which has become a massive part of my job now. Central News gave me the confidence to approach people for interviews, and I learnt which officials to contact for various stories. It also helped me build a portfolio of work, which was useful when applying for opportunities including the ABC job. Without Central News, I wouldn't be where I am today. I would definitely recommend it to everyone studying journalism at UTS, no matter how early in your degree you are – you can't get a job or an internship at a big news organisation without the skills and experience you gain through programs like Central News.
Fatima Olumee
Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
The practical nature of the degree has made me and my peers very desirable candidates for employment in an industry that is really tough to break out into.
What’s it like to be a student at UTS?
Being a student at UTS is an amazing and rewarding experience all because of the open-minded and diverse community of people you are constantly surrounded with. There are plenty of opportunities to make friends through clubs, social events and extracurricular activities on campus. For instance, I’m a Junior Executive of the UTS Society of Communications (UTSoC) and that has opened up a new network of friends and links to industry for me.
What's the best thing about studying journalism at UTS?
The best part of studying journalism at UTS is that I am exposed to being a real journalist every day. The practical nature of the degree has made me and my peers very desirable candidates for employment in an industry that is really tough to break out into.
What practical experience have you gained throughout your degree?
Studying journalism at UTS has led to incredible opportunities such as volunteering as a Content Producer for 2SER Radio’s Drive program, working as an Editorial Intern at Time Out Sydney and now securing a paid position as a Social Media Intern for UTS Careers. These practical experiences have been invaluable to my professional development as a journalist whilst also supplementing my degree.
What advice would you give to students considering studying Journalism?
The best advice I could give to any future journalism student is to learn to rely on yourself. University is a world away from any other educational experience and journalism, in particular, requires you to be open to learning what you are capable of on your own. Don’t forget to be open to new experiences and try not to give up too easily when the going gets tough.
What are your career aspirations?
In terms of my aspirations, I don’t like to narrow it down to just one career path as it puts me in a box. I’m open to a variety of experiences. I would love to continue to create innovative content for any publication, whether that be as a reporter, long-form journalist or social media director for a media organisation, or all of the above at some point!
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