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Journalism guru is USC’s top teacher
The senior academic behind some of the outstanding journalism graduates now reporting from media outlets across the Sunshine Coast and beyond has received a top teaching award.
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Associate Professor Stephen Lamble gained the 2009 Vice-Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding University Teacher.
The Head of USC’s School of Communication was presented with the award at the annual Graduation and awards ceremony on 17 April.
“USC is Australia’s newest and fastest-growing university, so there has been an opportunity to build a totally new and innovative journalism program from the ground up,” Dr Lamble said.
“It’s a stimulating environment to teach in and our students benefit from practical approaches to teaching in small classes.”
He said fostering strong industry links and educating students to work in a rapidly-changing media environment were vital for USC students’ employment prospects.
“Unlike some universities which stream students into working in print or broadcast, each of our students learns to report for radio, television, print and the world wide web,” he said.
USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill paid tribute to Associate Professor Lamble’s leadership of the journalism program.
“He is well-recognised in the journalism profession in Australia and the co-author of a university textbook used in journalism programs across the country. He has received accolades from his students for the online learning resources he has developed.”
Last year Dr Lamble was a joint recipient of a national $10,000 Australian Learning and Teaching Council award for creating innovative courses and research-based teaching resources to enhance graduate job opportunities in journalism.
Also last year, three of his USC students took the top three positions in a category of the Queensland Media Awards.
The USC School of Communication’s latest prize-winner is Kelli McClintock, 23, who was named Sunshine Coast Daily intern of the year for 2009 and received $1,000.
Kelli, who is freelancing while studying the final year of her USC Bachelor of Journalism, paid tribute to Dr Lamble’s skills and encouragement.
“He’s a genuine lecturer who lives what he speaks,” said the Caloundra 23-year-old.
“He cares about his students and has a great passion for journalism, especially investigative journalism. Just listening to him made me want to go after stories.”
— Julie Gatehouse