Content
Double victory for USC journalism student
A University of the Sunshine Coast student is celebrating two wins in a row – claiming a Queensland media award within weeks of landing a job with The Examiner newspaper in Tasmania.
Jodie Stephens, 23, received the title of “Most Outstanding Journalism Student – Regional Campus” at the 2011 Queensland Clarion Awards on Saturday 10 September.
Fellow journalism student, Lynette Brown, was runner-up in the same category.
Ms Stephens’ award-winning body of work included newspaper articles which examined the impacts of the Japanese tsunami on car dealerships, and the burden of Queensland’s flood crisis on charities.
“I was thrilled to win the award as it’s a very encouraging way to start my career in journalism,” she said.
“I got nominated for the award half-way through the application process with The Examiner newspaper.
“I let them (The Examiner) know that I’d been nominated and I really do think it helped me get the job.”
USC’s Journalism program leader Dr Folker Hanusch congratulated Ms Stephens for winning a highly prestigious award and obtaining a sought-after newspaper cadet position.
“Winning an award and getting a job in such a competitive field is testament to Jodie’s ability as a journalist,” he said.
“It also demonstrates that USC is getting it right in offering a journalism program which prepares students for employment in the real world.”
Ms Stephens said the confidence she gained during her USC degree, helped to outweigh any apprehension she felt about relocating interstate for her career.
“I am a little nervous about moving across the country, but in a good way,” she said.
“I loved my USC degree and I think it has given me all the skills I need to do well in a professional newsroom”.
Ms Stephens will start her new job next Monday (19 September) and graduate from USC with a Bachelor of Journalism on 30 September.
— Michelle Widdicombe