Jessica Maggio

I can proudly and earnestly say that I have walked away from this degree with an abundance of confidence. Confidence in myself, and confidence in what I do.

I am currently a Women’s Lifestyle Digital Producer for Bauer Media and have reported on hundreds of stories pertaining to current affairs and celebrity news. As a reporter for online videos, my videos can receive hundreds of thousands of hits, and the fact that my little name appears on the bottom left hand corner makes the five years of study completely worth it. I have always had an interest in radio or television broadcast and I can only hope that my career will continue to flourish in the years to come. Finding your own voice in a well-known and well-respected media company is such a great feeling.

Studying a practical degree helped me to understand what to expect when beginning my career. Having the knowledge to create, edit and produce your own content, is so valued in the industry that I’m thankful I learned the crux of it through the assessments and exams at UTS.

The most enjoyable parts of my degree were, for me, those that involved broadcast for television and radio. Despite the countless walks to buses and trains — rain hail or shine, all hours of the day — with 4 bags of production gear it still put a smile on my face when I’d finish a final product and think, “yep, you did it”.

I have also met some amazing people whilst doing this degree, both within and without of the university. From famous chefs to state politicians, celebrities to Italian former Prime Ministers and inspiring journalists, I’ve been in awe at whose company I’ve had the privilege of sharing.

And of course, the most enjoyable part of my international studies degree (and quite possibly of both degrees) was my year abroad in Italy. Meeting people from around the world, learning and adapting to a new culture and a new language, and studying at Europe’s oldest university are opportunities I never thought I would have had.

I guess what I’ve enjoyed the most is the opportunity to create, to grow, and to explore.

Every opportunity I had, I made sure I was paying attention, signing up, or volunteering just to get that extra experience. In my first year I was sent to report on a Roundtable hosted by former Premier of NSW Barry O’Farrell. I looked at the swarm of reporters from Channels 7, 9, 10, the ABC and SBS, and quickly tried to blend in with my tiny camera and tripod. I smiled feebly at an ABC cameraman as we gave each other the ‘cameraman nod’ (if that is even a thing) and at the touch of a button, I began recording.

I realised that these were real journalists and I could learn the world from them. UTS didn’t just give out assessments, they gave us the tools to get the experience and make the most of it, and by Lucifer I have!