The Guardian has saturated so much of my personal reading over the past few years. I have always turned to it for its diversity of news coverage, and respected its standards of journalism. So to be offered an internship in their newsroom is a surreal experience I still can’t believe was mine.
But what made it an even greater honour, was it being awarded in the name of Adele Horin - a journalist who was courageous, transformative, and driven by an innate sense of justice. She is remembered as an advocate for the underdog. She dedicated her life’s work to defending the disabled, fueling a feminist revolution, and giving voice to the abused and underprivileged.
Myself and Natasha May - a UTS Master of Advanced Journalism student, fellow intern, and now close friend - were being offered the chance to immerse into the Guardian Australia newsroom, full time for seven weeks, in Horin’s honour. To call it a journo student’s dream is a total understatement.
Our first meeting was with operations manager Alex Spring. She said she would ensure we wouldn't be left "twiddling our thumbs'' at any point during our seven weeks.
Now those seven weeks have passed, I can confirm she followed through on that promise.
From day one, we were acknowledged as journalists, capable enough to contribute our ideas, opinions, and writing to the newsroom. And it was clear so much consideration was put into making our internship exciting, hands-on, and something we would gain invaluable experience from.
We worked on stories across the desks - from sub-editing to news, photos, lifestyle and culture - and were trained in producing multimedia content across audio, video and social. We attended conference each morning, where the editors discuss and plan the news of the day. We ate with reporters in the kitchen, who let us know of the best lunch spots in Surry Hills (City Edge on Reservoir Street is a crowd favourite). And we got to be a part of the organised chaos of a newsroom responding to breaking news, crowding around a screen to watch an MP’s live address.
One lunch, Natasha said she realised she was waking up every morning “truly excited to come to work”. I hadn't noticed until then, but I was doing the exact same thing.
It is still surreal to me that I was able to go to work each day, surrounded by the journalists I have followed and looked up to for so long. Even more surreal - those same journalists became mentors who I turned to for feedback, advice and inspiration. They make up a workplace environment that is buzzing, positive, supportive and so motivating to be part of. Each person in the office seems to be driven by a genuine passion for their work. To see that culture nurtured by the morally-steadfast leadership of Lenore Taylor was awe-inspiring. (And to be taken out to coffee by her on our last day was an occasion I do not think Natasha or I will ever forget).
During conference on one of our last internship days, Lenore opened up discussion about the culture crisis around sexual harassment and consent that has surfaced in recent public debate. Together, the newsroom unpacked the complexity of the issue, and brainstormed ways they could best report on it - to deliver fair and factual accounts, to voice victims’ stories, to ensure the issue is not swept aside, and to hold the system accountable. And I am so glad I was there to witness it. In this moment, I came to understand what it truly means to use journalism as a force for progress.
I can see why the Adele Horin Prize is offered in conjunction with the Guardian. Reflected in the newsroom’s practice are the values Horin is so renowned for. That is, journalism that has high ethical standards, is a confronting and empathetic means of truth-telling, and that acts as an agent for social change and justice.
I have emerged from this internship more aware of both the industry, and myself. And I am so grateful for it, as it is my time with the Guardian that has made me realise that it is through journalism that I want to contribute to the world - fairly, accurately, and with humanity.
- Written by Rafqa Touma, current UTS Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) student and recipient of the 2021 Adele Horin Prize