UTS gave me the skills, the foot in the door and everything in between to get me to where I am today.
As a recent journalism graduate, Han is carving a career for herself in the world of journalism, working for 7 News Sydney.
UTS students are exposed to practical experiences from day one and it was this hands-on attitude that drew Han to the course. From semester one, students are out in the field being journalists, putting everything they have learned in the classroom into practice. First-year students complete a 'Newsday' assessment where they have 24h to report on a story. The night before Han's, she was told to pack her bag because she was heading to Canberra to cover the Senate's estimates hearing.
UTS Newsday made me realise I wanted to live and work in Canberra. In the real world of journalism you don’t have a couple of weeks to complete a 2000 word essay - you have to follow the chase and hit tight deadlines.
Studying Journalism at UTS
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Gaining industry experience
Once she had started studying, Han knew she wanted to get as much practical experience as possible. During her time at UTS, she completed about a dozen internships at a variety of outlets such as 7 News, 9 News, Ten News, SMH and 2GB radio in the press gallery.
On one occasion, she tweeted Mark Ferguson from 7 News, asking him if he was interested in having a chat with her for an assignment. He agreed and a couple of days after the interview, Han asked about an internship. Within a few months, Han found herself interning in the newsroom with him.
I think internships are challenging, you’re way out of your comfort zone and it’s exhausting. But you learn so much and meet amazing people who are willing to help and guide you through it.
Networking with the best in the business
Lectures from industry professionals are a regular feature at UTS allowing students to learn from their knowledge and experience in the field. Through these lectures, Han got to meet the likes of Joe Hildebrand from The Daily Telegraph and Studio 10, Matt De Groot from NOVA96.9 and Jen Ryall, former editor of Mashable, which gave her a real insight into the world of professional journalism. Han also secured her second internship with Studio 10 after meeting Joe Hildebrand in a lecture. Six months later, Han got her first paid gig as digital content and social media producer for Channel 10 News. She then went on to be a cadet journalist with The Canberra Times, before landing her current job with 7 News Sydney.
Laying the foundations for a career in journalism
Through her studies, Han learned the building blocks of being a journalist. She was taught to work to deadlines, fact check and how to write for broadcast, print and online. But it was the practical elements of the course that gave her the ability to put everything that she had learned into practice.
In her relatively new career as a journalist, Han’s already had some highlights but covering the Tathra bushfires was the one that has stuck with her. Broadcasting life-changing experiences on the ground and telling those stories was why she decided to become a journalist in the first place.
I loved the fact that I was being taught by real journalists who are in the industry and who have been through what I’m going through.
