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University student intern lands dream job with Channel 7 News
5 January, 2004
Tanya Weingarth's dream of becoming a television sports journalist has come true with a full-time job offer following a successful internship program arranged by Channel Seven News and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Only days after completing her Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree at the University, Ms Weingarth received a phone call from Ross Dagan, Director of News at the Seven's Maroochydore studios, to tell her: "You've got the job."
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the 20-year-old replied: "You've just made my life!"
More than 500 applications had been submitted for the coveted jobs with Channel Seven's Queensland News operation but Ms Weingarth had a headstart following her successful internships studios arranged by the University.
"We were all impressed by the enthusiasm, professionalism, strength of character and determination that Tanya demonstrated through two internships with us," said Mr Dagan.
"She got the job on pure merit and I feel she has a very bright future in television."
"I would expect there may be more job offers to University of the Sunshine Coast students in the future, especially since the University is offering a Journalism major now."
Originally from Brisbane, Ms Weingarth first visited the University of the Sunshine Coast during an Open Day in August 2000.
"I met a lot of the people involved in the Communication degree program and realised quite a few of them were full-time industry professionals with a lot of experience," she said.
"The University also had a lot of appeal. It was smaller than the others I had visited and I sensed that it would be much more personal, that it would be easier to get attention."
"After I enrolled, I liked the Communication program from the very start. I was in my second year when I was interviewed for one of the internship places with Seven and was given the chance to work there for one day a week for two semesters.
"At first, I simply went out and watched how the reporters worked. Then I moved on to conducting interviews and writing stories."
Ms Weingarth will be based in Bundaberg where her role will also include some general news reporting.
The internship program has now been running for two years. Communication students are selected for the internship based on their academic performance in the advanced course News Production, and interviews with Seven Local News staff. They work at the Maroochydore news studios one day a week throughout the semester, and compile a report on their activities for assessment.
"What makes this arrangement so special is that our students have the opportunity for professional training in the newsroom at the same time as studying at the University," said Stephen Hooper, Coordinator of Communication Studies at the University.
"The Internship Program at Seven Queensland has become an integral part of the undergraduate degree program."