Fairfax Media Interns Chosen For Training In 2008

19 Fairfax Media Interns Chosen For Training In 2008

Fairfax Media has named 19 prospective journalists to undergo training at preferred journalism schools as part of the company’s 2008 intern scheme.

At the same time, 15 of the Fairfax interns who have completed journalism training this year have now joined the ranks of their chosen newspapers or websites.

Group Executive Editor Paul Thompson said today that Fairfax was again delighted with the high quality of applications received this year and that the scheme was already living up to its objective of bringing a fresh approach to the hiring of young journalists.

“Fairfax and our editors are working with preferred journalism schools so that we can build on our commitment to editorial excellence while fostering journalists with ongoing training and satisfactory career paths,” he said.

Fairfax Media, New Zealand’s largest media organisation, owns nine daily newspapers including The Dominion Post and The Press, two national Sunday newspapers, magazines, a magazine publishing business, an increasing range of web-related operations, and more than 50 community newspapers throughout the country.

Interns undergo training for a Diploma or Graduate Diploma in Journalism at one of five institutions that Fairfax would be working with – the University of Canterbury, Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru, Massey University in Wellington, the Waikato Institute of Technology and Auckland University of Technology.

“We thank the journalism schools for their support in this important programme,” Mr Thompson said.

Another successful objective of the intern scheme is to encourage a greater diversity of student to consider taking up journalism.

“The type of news Fairfax Media publications and websites cover is extremely diverse. Our editors have to go to greater lengths to ensure that they are selecting the best and most suitable journalists for the job,” said Mr Thompson.

“We need the best available people and the intern scheme is an important step in that process.”

All interns are selected by Fairfaxeditors in conjunction with the approved institutions. The selection process includes interviews and testing of each applicant's writing skills, general knowledge and journalistic aptitude.

Applicants to the scheme nominate which publication they would like to work for on successful completion of the year-long journalism course and, where possible, that wish will be accommodated.

During course holidays, participants will be employed by their nominated publication. During this time, they will work with experienced journalists and have a mentor to offer support and guidance.

On the successful completion of their course, participants will be reimbursed for their course fees. Successful applicants will be bonded to Fairfax for two years.

Mr Thompson said Fairfax Media and its editors were committed to consistently improving the quality and scope of journalism in New Zealand.

“Our first batch of interns have now started work with their respective publications, and in 2008, we will be undertaking further training with them and other new journalists to ensure they get a fine start with Fairfax.”

Fairfax Media Editorial Development Manager Clive Lind, who organized the selection process, thanked all of the 132 people who had applied.

“Only a comparative few can be successful with the Fairfax scheme but I was delighted to learn that many who applied still want to become journalists. The scheme was designed to widen the pool of journalism applicants and it is certainly succeeding in my view,” he said.

The 2008 Fairfax Media interns, their publications and preferred journalism schools are:

Suburban Newspapers
Hannah Norton AUT
Matt Bowen WINTEC
Carly Tawhiao AUT

Sunday Star-Times
Finbarr Bunting AUT

Independent Financial Review
Adrian Chang AUT

Waikato Times
Ben Stanley WINTEC

Waikato Regional Community Newspapers
Katie Stone WINTEC

Taranaki Daily News
Kirsty Johnston Massey

Manawatu Standard
Laura Jackson Massey

Dominion Post
JoAnne Carr Massey
Kate Newton Massey
Stacey Wood Massey

Central Community Newspapers
Esther-Jane Lauaki Massey

Stuff
Michael Fox Massey
Clio Francis Massey

Nelson Mail
Charles Anderson Canterbury

Marlborough Express
Blair Ensor Canterbury
Claire Connell Canterbury

Timaru Herald
Katarina Filipe Aoraki

ENDS

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