Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Bachelor of International Studies, 2018
Young Alumni Award
Jessica Washington aspired to be a journalist from the young age of 10. Encouraged by her teacher at the time, her love of writing led her to enter a local newspaper competition. After seeing her name published in print, she knew without a doubt that journalism was her future.
Today, Jessica is dedicated to human rights advocacy through her work as a prominent foreign correspondent at Al Jazeera. It is a job she has always dreamed of and she credits her success to the teachers who supported her along the way. Teachers like Jenna Price, renowned Australian journalist and a regular columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, who guided Jessica to discover her niche in journalism.
Focused on amplifying the voices of marginalised communities and underrepresented voices throughout Asia, Jessica fearlessly tackles challenging situations through her reporting. During her outstanding career to date, she has reported on high profile elections, legal cases and natural disasters across Asia. More recently, she got an exclusive interview with the President Elect of Indonesia, the first journalist to acquire such an opportunity.
Her reporting has done more than raise awareness – it has led to tangible outcomes. From exposing human rights violations to holding authorities accountable, Jessica’s work has made a real difference. This impact has even been recognised on a global scale, with international bodies like the United Nations commending her investigations.
Beyond the headlines, Jessica works tirelessly behind the scenes, collaborating with legal experts to address concerns affecting freedom of expression and minority rights.
Jessica’s work is built on the foundation of her academic pursuits. She says she still applies her learnings from studying a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism and International Studies) at UTS, especially her immersive year in Beijing. About to start her Masters in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University, Jessica is keen to look deeper into issues and enhance her ability to advocate for those who need it most.
The value of good journalism is contributing to positive change. Even on a micro level – local journalism is equally important and all journalism is fundamentally local.