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Journalism graduate wins State media award
University of the Sunshine Coast journalism graduate Alice Campion had two great reasons to celebrate at the 2010 Queensland Clarion (Media) Awards on Saturday 28 August.
Alice, 20, of Peregian Beach clinched the award for the “Most Outstanding Journalism Student – Regional” before a crowd of Queensland’s top journalists at a gala event at Brisbane’s Hilton hotel.
And, just days earlier, Alice gained full-time employment as a journalist with the Sunshine Coast Daily.
Alice, a former Good Shepherd Lutheran College student who graduated from USC in April, said she was thrilled to have won the prestigious media award a week out from turning 21.
“It’s a fantastic way to start off my career,” she said. “I’ve just finished three years of study and put in a lot of work, and now it feels like it’s all paid off.
“Winning this award is a great achievement for me, and now that there’s expectation there and I’ve got a reputation to live up to, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Alice’s award entry included two news stories published by the Sunshine Coast Daily, where Alice completed an internship in late 2009 and has worked part-time since on the newspaper’s website.
One story was about a survivor of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, while the other was about a woman who discovered her health problems had been caused by a hormonal imbalance.
Alice said she had received strong support and encouragement from Sunshine Coast Daily staff as well as from USC’s journalism academics, particularly Head of School of Communication Associate Professor Stephen Lamble and Lecturer Folker Hanusch.
She congratulated the two other USC students who were finalists for the award – Graham Reeks, 31, of Landsborough, Jamie-Leigh Carter, 20, of Kippa-Ring.
“With all three of us as finalists, it just shows that USC has a fantastic journalism program,” she said. “It also highlights the fact that USC has great ties with local media. I loved my internship as much as my whole degree.”
This is the third time in five years that the “Most Outstanding Journalism Student – Regional” award has gone to a USC student. Previous winners were Hannah Klose in 2006 and Tom Haynes in 2008.
Sunshine Coast Newspapers editor-in-chief Mark Furler said he had employed Alice because she was highly motivated and enthusiastic.
“Alice really stood out as a go-getter,” he said.
“The USC internship program is great because we get to see the students as they’re working. We can see how they respond to the challenges that we put up.
“It’s been a really good program for us and it’s a real credit to the University. It demonstrates to me, on a weekly basis, that the learning at USC is practical and in line with the requirements of the real world.”
Mr Furler said Alice would soon start as editor of Sunshine Coast Newspapers’ new Kawana Weekly community newspaper.
— Terry Walsh