Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts

Interview: Tim Pope, ABC Producer

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Posted by Sarah Tabitha | Posted on 3:27 PM

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At only 22, Tim Pope is an extremely hard worker - a description that can be easily granted to anyone who works odd hours that includes 2am till 9am while most of us are tucked into bed, sleeping peacefully. 
He is meticulous, on the ball and doesn't forget the letters of the phonetic alphabet which is something he commonly uses in his job. He was also lucky enough to study journalism at one of Australia's most prestigious courses at RMIT Univeristy in Melbourne. Hopefully one day we will see him achieve his dream as the host of Media Watch. 


Why did you want to become a journalist?
I didn’t really want to be a journalist to begin with. I really hate being bored and a job where something new happens [almost] every day sounded like the best choice. I didn’t realise until quite late in the day that I actually had a passion for news.

Where did you study? And do you think much of what you learnt at university was useful in relation to your job today?
I did a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at RMIT in Melbourne. It’s a fantastic course and I use the skills developed in the core subjects every day. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not going to emerge from uni butterfly-style, as a fully developed journalist. You do some of your most important learning on the job.

When and how did you start at the ABC?
I started at the ABC in June 2009 as an autocue operator for ABC News Breakfast (then on ABC2) working 5-9am 3 days a week. I got this job off the back of an internship on the show. After 9 months on autocue I was offered casual work as a producer and I have been a full-time casual since then.

So far, what have been some of your most memorable experiences? 
In my current role I meet a lot of interesting or prominent people and work with the team to cover a lot of big stories. My most memorable moment would probably have to being present in the studio and seeing a jaw-dropping, on-air mistake that landed us on Media Watch.

What are your hours? And what is a typical work day for you?
My hours can differ. Most commonly I work as an on-air producer and my shift runs from 2am to 9am (or 9.30). I sometimes work as a planning producer for the show, working overnight from 4pm to midnight. On-air production is a mixed bag; tasks are assigned differently every day. Some days I’ll be handling packages and some days I’ll be organising live interviews and crosses. But the pressures of rolling news mean there’s always crossover and anyone who has time does whatever needs to be done. Planning can be slightly more relaxed, organising guests and crosses and picking up stories for the following day.

What are some of the funny things that have happened to you?
There’s always something to laugh at when you work in a newsroom.

What has been your favourite topic covered?
Because I’m a producer not a reporter I don’t cover topics as such – But I would say working on the coverage for Election 2010 has been a highlight.

What is your opinion on the way the ABC treats journalism compared to other places?
(This might sound like I’m trotting out the party line) The ABC really does have a commitment to quality journalism. The Melbourne newsroom, where I work, has a very positive culture of constructive criticism.

Who do you look up to in your industry and why?
I admire Tony Jones and Virginia Trioli – both are very talented interviewers and have the ability to cut right to the heart of the topic with the interviewee. Another person I admire – this one might seem a little off the wall – is Jane Cowan who most people will remember for covering the Bushfires Royal Commission for the ABC. Jane is a supremely talented reporter and interviewer and I wish I had her ability and drive.

What advice would you give to others wanting to become r journalists? And whats the best advice you were given along the way?
I hesitate before offering any kind of advice to aspiring journalists. When I was taking my first steps in journalism I was reminded to think about WHY I was doing it – that was a very important piece of advice given to me by an experienced reporter. Essentially he said to me “I hope you don’t want to change the world”.

What are your long term goals? Where do you hope your career to go?
 I really haven’t got long term career expectations. At this stage I haven’t discovered all my strengths and weaknesses. I could be a fantastic reporter, I could be bad at it – I might be more suited to interviewing and presenting. My pipe dream has always been to present Media Watch.

Interview: Caroline Overington, Journalist and Writer

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Posted by Sarah Tabitha | Posted on 4:10 AM

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Caroline Overington is one of Australia's best female journalists. She has had en extraordinary career that includes working for The Age and as New York correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald. Currently she works as a reporter for The Australian. To describe her as an award winning journalist is also no understatement -  in November 2006 Caroline won the prestigious Sir Keith Murdoch Award for Journalism and then the 2007 Walkley Award for investigative journalism for her coverage of the AWB scandal. 
The incredibly talented woman has also written three books including Kickback (2007) is based on her coverage of the AWB scandal and a novel, Ghost Child was released last year with rave reviews. Her novel I came to say goodbye was released two months that touches upon the subject of child protection. 
There is an incredible video interview on her friend Mia Freedman's website Mama Mia about the issue of parents killing their children after the death of a little boy called Imran Zilic and the legal issues of reporting that surround it - both the video and Caroline's article on it are pieces of extremely high quality journalism that will bring you to tears. If you are after something amazing to watch, I suggest you view it here.
She is also a mother of twins but I was reluctant to ask her how she manages juggling her children while being a writer. Why? Because I felt that I was asking a sexist question. Do men who are successful journalists or just successful in their own right often get asked, 'How they manage juggling their kids with their work,' - No. 
She is a fantastic writer and we were absolutely thrilled that she agreed to an interview for Doorways. Take particular note of her answer to how she get's into her 'writing mode' - very well answered. 

How did you get into journalism?
I did work experience at the Melton Mail Express, in my home town of Melton, at the age of 13. I took a cadetship on suburban newspapers after I finished my HSC at 17, hoping to one day get on at The Age (The Age owned the local papers in those days.)

What was it like working in New York to become a foreign correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age?
The Age and the SMH sent me to New York in 2002. My husband and I had twins. They were 18 months old. It was amusing to us, trying to get their big stroller onto the subway (nobody has a car); and through the snow in winter. But obviously it was magical. We had toboggan rides, and rode the carousel at Toys R Us in Times Square, and played in Central Park, and went ice-skating. I even did some work!

In your opinion, what are some of the differences between working for News Ltd and Fairfax?
The most fun I've ever had in my life is working for newspapapers. I don't really mind which ones.

How do you bounce between writing fiction and non-fiction?
It is often difficult, as a reporter, to tell the whole story: the police won't talk to you, except through spokespeople who often weren't even at the scene of the crime; the hospital won't talk to you; the surgeon operating on the victim won't; very often, even witnesses are told to keep quiet.
That is very difficult from when I started 18 years ago, and you could just bowl up to a crime scene and see things for yourself. We've become very strange and secretive, usually to protect the reputations of politicians.
In fiction, I have found a freedom to write what really goes on in society: I can say what I've seen when I've walked into houses where children have been neglected; I can discuss what it might be like to be a child whose brother was murdered by the parents, having to grow up with a mother in jail, and so forth.
My readers are clever: they know it's all true.

What are some of the habits you always do to get yourself into 'writing-mode'?
I have had many giggles about this with my friend Mia Freedman. We both have young children. We are always saying how marvellous it would be to `catch the Muse' and go into a light and beautiful room and write away, with a tea cup and saucer, as the inspiration strikes. The reality is quite different: the children might need a volcano for a school project. Lunches have to be made. So I write when I can.

What is your advice to other aspiring journalists?
It is much easier to get started these days, but you have to be prepared to write for nothing for a while. Write for blogs. Write your own blog! Write for the local paper. Write for the university magazine. Keep all your clippings. And then apply, apply, apply, for every job you can find.

Interview: Gabby McMillan, Writer

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Posted by Laura Valerie | Posted on 6:49 PM

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Gabby McMillan is a force to be reckoned with. Successfully marrying her creative spirit with a lucrative writing and editing career, Gabby currently holds a coveted position as staff writer for Weight Watchers magazine, while dabbling in creative writing in her spare time. Aspiring writers, take note: Gabby is an inspiration for those of us who hope to make writing our full-time vocation. You can follow Gabby's career via her lovely blog, which showcases her eloquent prose and sparkling wit, and her uplifting tweets (@gabbymcmillan). Here is Gabby's delightfully unabridged interview with Doorways.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Also, please describe your writing trajectory.*
My first piece was published in Pursuit magazine. Seeing my byline in print was spine-tinglingly delightful, so I bragged to friends and flapped copies of the publication in relatives’ faces. Did I mention the piece was a two-sentence book review? And I was in Year 8? And the magazine was about 10 pages long? Still, a girl has to start somewhere.

Fast-forward five years and I ended up knee-deep in a journalism and creative writing degree. Ever the teacher’s pet/gold star student/class geek, I flaunted my writerly wares around Canberra in search of a magazine that would publish an 18-year-old student with no experience (I’d realised my Year 8 byline wasn’t too crash-hot). I began writing for Canberra’s street press title, BMA. It was unbelievable, offering surreal moments like chatting on the phone with Regurgitator in my Ressies room while friends skulled beer bongs in the hallway. By the end of university, I had three years of writing for BMA under my belt – as well as contributions to Lip, Forte, Monitor Online, This Is Writing, All Write and Vive magazine.

After graduation, I nabbed a chief sub-editor job at two Disney tween titles. After two years of subbing features on Zac Efron’s latest haircut, I became the deputy chief sub-editor/health writer at DOLLY (where Zac’s hair still got attention). I also chased freelancing opportunities and was lucky to score commissions from Cosmopolitan and Weight Watchers Online.

A stint as the deputy editor of three parenting titles was a memorable rollercoaster ride. It reminded me of my true passion: writing. So, I moved away from managerial editorial roles in to my current – and more creative – position of Weight Watchers magazine’s staff writer, where I pen stories on everything from nutrition and fitness, to fashion and beauty. Upon seeing my first feature in print, the spine tingles started again.

(The wonderful Australian author Andrew Humphreys, who I was lucky enough to work with, told me successful careers don’t need to be a steep upward climb: they can have many ups and downs. I credit him for bringing me back a notch and encouraging me to do what makes me happy.)

I’m also a passionate creative writer, but I haven’t quite figured out how to balance fulltime magazine writing with working on my short film script, vignettes and novel ideas. I’m sure I’ll master it eventually but until that wonderful day comes, fulltime magazine writing is my priority and creative writing is my playtime.

* I bet you wish you asked for the abridged version. I’ll step off the soap box now, well, in a moment.

What is your writing routine?
It varies. I tend to save a methodical writing routine for my staff writer position – keeping to-do lists, beating deadlines, staying on track etc – while my creative writing is a whirlwind of 6am bursts of inspiration followed by days of nothingness, rounded off with four-hour marathon sessions. (Confession: I can’t write at home without my desk lamp and back pillow but there’s nothing sexy about that, is there?)

What inspires you?
The ridiculous. Walking. Eavesdropping. Fish-out-of-water scenarios. People in my life inspire snippets of stories every day... they just don’t know it yet. I adore meeting new people and finding what makes them tick. Brilliant writing also motivates – and terrifies – me (think: The Book Thief, Arrested Development, Breaking Bad, just to name a few).

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
My advice is simple: if you want to be a writer, write. Write, damn it, write. Get that pen out, turn on your laptop, use chalk for all I care – just write.

Now, I know it’s harder than it sounds, so allow me to share my creative writing confession: I often get ahead of myself – daydreaming about book tours and my short list of book cover illustrators – before I’ve even typed a sentence in Microsoft Word. Nuts. My best work is done when I stay in the moment, focusing no further than a chapter or two ahead, occasionally jotting down ideas for the ending. Once my brain drifts in to ‘Gabby accepting the Booker Prize’ dream sequences, I’m doomed. It means I’ve let the story get away from me and I’ve projected myself to the (unrealistic) end without enjoying the experience of writing.

My boyfriend, who also dabbles in creating writing, is patient with my mad-woman tendencies. He reminds me to let ‘Gabby the writer’ get the words down first, then let ‘Gabby the sub-editor’ fix them later. Until those words are down, ‘Gabby the sub-editor’ needs to be far away, caged in a basement if necessary. If I let her hang around for too long, she confuses matters with her ‘Is this sentence tight enough?’ and ‘I don’t think the intro works’ feedback. ‘Gabby the sub-editor’ is fantastic to have around for editing, but she’s a pain in the butt if she pokes her nose in beforehand. So, that’s it: write first, edit later. You can’t edit a blank page, folks.

Last but not least: enjoy what you’re writing. Good ol’ Robert Frost (and my boys from Boston Legal) once said ‘No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader’. Translation: If you’re not feeling it, no one else will. Take pleasure in words – they’re cheeky little buggers. Play with them. Show them a good time. Have fun.

Interview: Jason Whittaker, Crikey Deputy Editor

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Posted by Doorways | Posted on 12:41 AM

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Jason Whittaker is a big deal. He is deputy editor of Crikey - the online news website published by Eric Beecher, Chairman of Private Media (Crikey, Business Spectator, Smart Company, Eureka Report) - who has previously edited The Sydney Morning Herald and The Herald Sun. Crikey is now one of the most popular Australia news websites around. While I was at university studying journalism, my lecturers always spoke very highly of Crikey and it was seen as a bit of a renegade publication.

Jason has had an interesting career that has seen him work for a number of different publications within the print and online media spectrum. A friend of mine did work experience at Crikey and described Jason as "a very cool guy and really nice with a good sense of humour".  Enjoy this fabulous interview. 

Why did you decide you wanted to work in the media?
I never know how to answer that question. Truth is, I never wanted to be anything else.

You were previously the managing editor of Trader Business Media, a division of ACP Magazines, what was that experience like? And what kind of things did you have to do in that position?
The experience was eye-opening in many ways. There’s nothing very romantic about working on business publications for specific industries. But what you learn very quickly is how important it is to know who you’re writing for and how to cater to their needs. And as a journalist that’s vital, no matter where you work.
I started as a sub-editor on one title, become more of a reporter, a news editor, a product editor and finally the managing editor of a number of titles across print and online.

What has been the best experience you have had in your career so far?
I would say the opportunity I’ve had to travel. My last job allowed me to visit cities around the country and even around the world, which I was able to exploit.

What is it like working for Crikey? And what is the difference working for an online publication? 
Crikey is quite different to where I was working previous, and in other ways very similar. It is an organisation that isn’t flush with resources and so the job becomes doing the best with what you have. I certainly had experience in that.
Crikey works around the clock in the online environment, but our day is still built around a lunchtime product with a daily deadline. So the pressure is always on. 

You have done a huge amount of writing for a diverse range of publications. Where do you find your motivation and drive to write? 
The drive? Deadlines, pure and simple. They drive us all to get done what we have to get done. But certainly I love the craft of journalism, I’m curious about what’s happening in the world, and communicating that with the best product is always the goal.

Do you think aspiring journalists should be thinking more about print or online media? 
I think aspiring journalists should be thinking about being great journalists, pure and simple. There is absolutely a need for journalists to understand the online space, to be across the latest communication tools (social media, etc) and have a basic understanding of producing multi-media content. Your employability will depend on it. But great journalism is great journalism and great writing is great writing.

What is your best piece of advice for aspiring writers and journalists? 
Write. Write passionately. And, most importantly, write prolifically. Getting a job in journalism has become a self-marketing exercise – it’s essential students and young journalists are volunteering their services on as many forums as possible to build a great portfolio, promote their name, and stand out from a crowded field in a market with fewer and fewer jobs.

Interview: Laura Greaves, Freelance Writer

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Posted by Laura Valerie | Posted on 10:45 PM

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I came across the lovely Laura Greaves just a few months ago, when I read her interview with Sarah Ayoub on Sarah's wonderful writer's blog Wordsmith Lane. Laura's inspiring talent and generous nature shined through her words, which prompted me to reach out to her via email; I will be forever grateful to the kind encouragement she gave me in return. Laura is an accomplished writer, editor and journalist, with over 10 years of experience and multiple awards under her belt. She is currently working as a sought-after freelance writer for such publications as Woman's Day, Good Health and Studio Brides; as well as completing studies in screenwriting and posting on her delightful new blog, which you can find at her website, Laura Greaves. Laura's answers to my interview questions were so comprehensive that there is not much more to say - so enjoy! 

Please describe your career trajectory.
I had my first journalism job while I was still at high school in Adelaide: I was a student reporter for News Limited's short-lived South Australian youth newspaper, Y. After finishing high school a year early, I skipped uni and instead landed a three-year journalism cadetship with Adelaide's The Advertiser newspaper. It was such a fantastic grounding in journalism - I covered everything from car crashes and murder trials to sports and business news. I became the paper's first ever dedicated Youth Affairs Reporter and in 2001 was named Australian Young Journalist of the Year for my coverage of young people and youth issues. I also worked as Fashion Editor at the same time! In 2002 I moved to London and worked for Conde Nast magazines, not as a writer but on the production side of things. To be honest, I was awful at it - but it did provide a valuable insight into the 'business end' of putting out a magazine. After that I moved to a major suburban London newspaper as Entertainment Editor, which was a blast - I interviewed some big names, including Jack Nicholson, Reese Witherspoon and Halle Berry... but the real highlight for me was interviewing Matt and Luke Goss from the 80s boy band Bros (my first true loves!) Then I moved to another London paper to launch their entertainment supplement, and also did a load of freelancing for UK magazines and national newspapers including the Daily Mirror. I moved to Sydney in 2007 and briefly worked as a book publicist, then became Deputy Editor of ACP's Slimming & Health magazine. I became Editor a year later, but sadly the magazine closed not long after. That's when I made the leap into full-time freelancing, which I absolutely love.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Without wanting to sound all hoity-toity, writing has always felt like a vocation rather than a career choice for me. I honestly can't recall a time when I wasn't writing and never actually decided to 'become' a writer - it was always just a given. I still have my grade two report card, where my teacher wrote that she thought I'd be suited to a career in journalism (perhaps because I'm so nosy?!). I think that was the first time I understood that it was possible to write stories for a living and from that moment I was set on being a journo. I do remember, in my teens, briefly flirting with the idea of becoming an occupational therapist (!) and my dad telling me not to be so silly - that I was a writer and that's all there was to it! (Thanks dad!)

What is your writing routine?
For whatever reason, I write best in the afternoons so I use the mornings for 'admin' stuff - going running, walking the dog, errands, emails etc - and then chain myself to my desk from about 1pm to 7pm. (Of course, this changes when I have a lot of deadlines!) I also do the odd bit of in-house sub-editing work, so occasionally I may find myself commuting like the rest of the world! At the moment I'm in the process of restructuring the way I work. I'm also studying screenwriting part time and found that juggling my film school workload with my 'proper' work left me feeling a bit creatively adrift. So I'm now trying to condense my freelance work into three days per week so that I can have two days to work on screenplays, novels, paintings... whatever takes my fancy, really! I feel that when you do a creative thing for a living, it can actually suck a lot of the creativity out of it - so it's important to make time to let your imagination loose!

What do you read?
I don't seem to have a lot of time to read proper books these days (unless I'm on holiday!), but I adore biographies of interesting and inspiring people and I've recently been rediscovering some of the all-time classic novels. My absolute favourite books are Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre; I read them over and over and discover something new every time. I'm also a total magazine junkie: I love WHO, Real Living and Shop Til You Drop (I'd love my mag list to include some more high-brow titles, but it's just not going to happen!) There's also several blogs I check out daily, including Erica Bartle's Girl With a Satchel and Sarah Ayoub's Wordsmith Lane. Another favourite is my genius interior designer friend Ange's Wicker & Stitch (http://wickerandstitch.blogspot.com) and a whole host of vintage clothing blogs. And of course I have my own blog at www.lauragreaves.com!

Which writer do you most admire and why?
Wow. Great question! I honestly don't think I could choose just one. There are so many fab freelancers in Australia, I wouldn't even know where to begin! In terms of novelists, I think the UK writer Dorothy Koomson (www.dorothykoomson.co.uk) is fantastic - she's a working journalist but somehow finds time to write very readable, incredibly moving stories about love, friendship etc... all those important things. But I would have to say my all-time writing hero is Tina Fey. She's a brilliantly sharp and funny writer and is able to turn her hand to seemingly anything. I kind of want to be her!

What inspires you?
Goodness, where to begin?! In no particular order... sunny days, great TV (every time I watch Mad Men or Love My Way, I'm literally breathless with how amazing the writing is!), my dog, terrible 80s music, stories of triumph against the odds, my go-getting friends, travel, sleep, my lovely husband, running, my frighteningly clever eight-year-old god-daughter, people who live their dreams, New York City.

What do you love about being a writer?
I love that it allows me to meet people whose paths I may otherwise never cross. Recently, for example, I interviewed a Melbourne-based mother of four who is living with depression and serious illness and has to deal with a hell of a lot just to get out of bed every morning. She was so positive and matter-of-fact and inspiring that after our chat I felt like I could do anything. There's no way I would have had the opportunity to meet her had I not been writing a feature on living with mental illness. I love that! And what I particularly love about being a freelance writer and working from home is that it gives me the ability to stop and smell the roses occasionally!

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
It may sound obvious but WRITE! So many would-be writers think about writing and talk about writing and set themselves arbitrary deadlines - eg 'I will write a chapter of my novel every month for a year' - but don't actually get down to the business of putting pen to paper. I speak from experience, because I am an all-star procrastinator! But I guarantee that once you sit down and start scribbling - even if you're just writing about what you did yesterday - the words will start to flow and you'll wonder why you ever put it off. There's a writing quote that I love: 'Q: How do I get published? A: Write a great book'. The same can be said of freelance journalism - you'll never see your name in print if you don't just sit down and do it. I think blogging is a great way to start - it gets you in the habit of writing something every day. Force yourself if you have to, but make sure you get those words on that page!

Interview: Florencia Cavallo, ABC Journalist

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Posted by Sarah Tabitha | Posted on 5:42 AM

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Florencia Cavallo is an inspiring young journalist. After securing a job as an ABC reporter in Coffs Harbour earlier this year, Florencia shows that taking risks and moving interstate is all part of the journey to being a successful reporter. Not only is Florencia a good journalist, she is kind, polite and caring towards others. Remember her name, we've got a feeling at Doorways she is going to go far.

Why did you want to become a journalist?
I have always been a nosy person, ever since I was little. I’ve always wanted to know what’s going on in the world. I like meeting people, talking to people, and telling their stories. I knew that by being a journalist; I would learn something interesting everyday. And I have.

Where did you study? Do you think much of what you learnt at university was useful in relation to your job today?
I did my Bachelor of Media Studies, with a journalism major, at La Trobe University in Melbourne. I think like most degrees, they are useful to a point, but to be honest most of what I have learnt has been on the job. University definitely prepared me and taught me things like ethics, working to deadlines, issues with law, and of course the basics in regards to news writing.

But I don’t think university can teach you to be inquisitive and passionate about news. You either have it in your blood or you don’t. I mean if you’re not interested in learning new things, and if you don’t enjoy talking to people and finding out what the story is, you’re never going to make it.

When and how did you start at the ABC?
I knew I wanted to work for the ABC, so my focus was getting my foot in the door with the company, no matter where I had to move to. After a gruelling interview process I got a call saying I got the job. I was ecstatic. I packed my life into my car and moved to Coffs Harbour three weeks later.

So far, what have been some of your most memorable experiences?
Ah that’s a really hard question. I think everyday is an experience. To say that one has been the most memorable would just not be true. Covering the federal election was good fun, definitely memorable. Such a busy time! It was the first election I had covered.

What was it like moving interstate?
It’s actually being ok. I’ve always enjoyed travelling so I was happy to move. Coffs Harbour is a really interesting place to live. Because we cover the entire mid north coast, there’s always a lot happening, and it’s an area that is growing quickly so we have plenty of interesting stories to report. But of course I miss my beloved Melbourne. I’ll be back one day.

What are some of the funny things that have happened to you?
Oh, I think being a ‘Victorian’ is really not an advantage when moving to NSW. I am still getting the names of some regional towns wrong, and it’s especially embarrassing if I do it on air. And of course getting lost during the first few weeks and being late for press conferences were not fun times.

What's been your best new piece?
I don’t know that it was my best piece, but it’s one that has stayed with me because it was so sad. I covered a coronial inquiry into a little boy who died. And the way the parents spoke about their child, and the pain they were in, was just overwhelming. I think covering things like that really make you learn how to be compassionate and sensitive to families who are going through so much pain. And because there is that level of respect and care, the story ends up being compelling to listen to.

What does an average day consist of?
Finding stories, in a nutshell. I have a coffee to start, then sift through emails and never ending press releases. Which ones are important in our area? What do our listeners care about? What do they actually mean? Then the fun starts: putting calls in for interviews, reading newspapers, listening and watching other news to see what else is happening, doing interviews and then filing stories. It’s about quality and quantity. Each journo does anywhere from three to six stories a day (two versions of each). We produce the bulletins, do live crosses to Sydney if they’re big stories, police rounds, file stories for online, and we read five live bulletins daily. They’re full-on days.

What is interesting about working for the ABC? 
Their training, ethics etc. I just love how diverse it is. There’s so much room to work on stories that interest you, and every day is a challenge. We don’t just work as journalists, but we are news readers, producers, online journalists and twitterers.

What advice would you give to others wanting to work for the ABC? And whats the best advice you were given along the way?
Journalism is a really competitive industry, everyone knows that. I think it’s important to be sure of yourself (without being obnoxious) and know your potential. I think whether it’s the ABC you want to work for, or any other company, it’s important to keep your head up and keep applying for positions. Don’t take no for an answer, and if you get turned down for a job, think about what you learn from it, and how you can utilise that skill to ace your next interview.

I think the important thing is not to give up. A lot of people graduate having a passion for news and current affairs and it slowly dies off because they are exhausted by the process they have to go through. But everyone goes through it.

The best advice I could have gotten was to do work experience and volunteer work while at uni. No one cares if you have a degree – anyone can graduate with good marks. But have you tried to get published? Have you put in hard work at community TV and radio stations? How much work experience have you done? What about internships? Casual work? That’s what employers care about.

And I was lucky enough to have a husband who really supported me, and pushed me to keep pursuing my dream.

What are your long term goals? Where do you hope your career to go?
I’ve always known that I want to focus on TV reporting. I enjoy the creative side of TV news, working with pictures and audio to create a story people enjoy watching and remember even after they have turned off their TVs. And I would really like to be part of a team who is focused on live news coverage.

But as a really wise person once told me “a career is a marathon, not a race”. And at this stage, I’m just enjoying the ride.

Interview: Benjamin Law, Writer

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Posted by Laura Valerie | Posted on 12:00 AM

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Photo courtesy of Tammy Law (All Rights Reserved)


Benjamin Law's byline first caught my eye when I came across "Bogan or Gay?" in frankie magazine. It was hysterically funny, and I proceeded to read it aloud to every member of my family, who all loved it just as much as I did. Ever since, I have flicked straight to Ben's articles every time frankie arrives in my mailbox - they never fail to make me laugh, cry and think. His quietly provocative articles for The Monthly (particularly Saving Yourself and A Gay Old Time) are also wonderful and his debut book The Family Law, a refreshingly candid, side-splitting anthology of stories about his wonderfully eccentric (yet touchingly relatable) family, is brilliant.

Ben is a freelance writer. He is a senior contributor to frankie magazine and his work has also appeared in The Monthly, Qweekend, Sunday Life, The Big Issue, New Matilda and The Courier Mail. The Family Law was released this year to raving reviews and has shot to the very top of the best seller list at Avid Reader (beating even Stieg Larsson). If you would like to find out more about Ben, you can visit his website, follow him on twitter and read this interview, which he generously granted us while working on his new project in Tokyo. 




Please describe your career trajectory.

I've always loved reading and wrote stupid stories as a kid. But I probably first got into magazine writing properly when I wrote the Letter of the Month at Rolling Stone as a 16-year-old. The editor sent me a Panasonic stereo for my troubles. (It’s the stereo I still use to this day.) I’m idiotically proud of the fact my first byline was a paid one — if you count stereos as payment. From there, I did a creative writing degree and started writing for every magazine that would take me on.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I'm not sure if was actually a life ambition from the start. But I do remember reading an article in Rolling Stone as a teenager that blew my mind, called The True Story of John/Joan. It was one of the longest stories I'd ever read in the magazine, and looked at a true life case of twin boys in the US where one had a botched circumcision. Scientists effectively tried to make that boy into a girl, and the resulting life story just defied belief. It was probably the first non-fiction I'd read that read like a gripping novel. That got me thinking about the stuff I'd want to write about.

What is your writing routine?

Up until recently, my routine was pretty ad-hoc. My boyfriend produces radio for the ABC and gets out of bed at 3.30am. So out of guilt, my schedule used to run like clockwork: wake up at 6.30am; roll out of bed; green tea; check email; read news; shower; housework; writing/interviewing/editing by 9am. Swim laps; dinner; write some more; sleep. But now, because my research has taken me overseas, I've had to adjust to writing on the road, in airport terminals, in bed — whenever. The concept of routine has pretty much been stolen from me now.

What do you read?

Everything I can get my hands on. Regularly, I read magazines like The New Yorker, GQ (US version), Details, Time, National Geographic and Butt, which is this terrific Dutch gay magazine. Every day, I trawl through Australian, UK and American news websites, and also a fantastic queer news portal called Towleroad. And I'm always reading book, whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

Which writer do you most admire and why?

There are way too many. David Sedaris, obviously — he's a genius and one of the funniest people alive. I adore Jonathan Franzen and Zadie Smith, and the way they both write about people and families in their fiction. Chris Heath and Susan Orlean are two American non-fiction writers who I think are wonderful, and closer to home, people like Chloe Hooper, Helen Garner and Anna Krien do it for me.

What inspires you?

People. I just think people are super interesting.

What do you love about being a writer?

It's great being a writer if you have a short ADHD attention span like me. Every new story is literally a new job; it's impossible for me to get bored.

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now, I'm in Tokyo where I'm doing research on queer celebrity culture, especially on TV here. It's part of a bigger travel adventure book that looks at queer people throughout the Asian continent. Earlier in the year, I was in Thailand going backstage with the nation's biggest ladyboy competition, and in China looking at how young gays and lesbians connect on the internet, in a country where the internet is heavily moderated.

How important do you think it is for writers to have a unique, recognisable voice, even when they are writing for publications?

It really depends on the publication you're writing for. I've been with frankie magazine since its second issue, and both Louise (founding editor) and Jo (current editor) both really encourage their writers to present themselves as a character. As a result, it's probably one of the few magazines out there where readers pay attention to the bylines and flick immediately to their favourite writer, whether it's Marieke Hardy or Justin Heazlewood or Daniel Evans. As writers, that's really gratifying.

Do you tweak your writing process or mindset when you are writing journalistic pieces for The Monthly, as opposed to your irreverent (often quietly heartfelt) musings in frankie?

All the different magazines I write for demand different things. The Monthly is usually a bit more involved and I invest more time into research and interviews, whereas frankie is often about making sure things are as funny as possible, but super-focused on a theme since the stories are usually capped at 650 words.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Read anything you can get your hands on. Be curious about everything and everyone around you. And then, finally, take notes.

Interview: Adam Joseph, Marketing Writer

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Posted by Sarah Tabitha | Posted on 7:01 PM

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This is by far one the funniest interviews I have ever read. Adam has answered the questions in fabulous style - the responses are engaging and easy to read but at the same time add a great element of humour to them. He works for the Herald Sun as their Readership Director but has had an extensive career in newspapers. Funnily enough, I met Adam at the mUmBRELLA Question Time breakfast last week and he was just as pleasant in real life. Enjoy his interivew and I hope it gives you an insight into other areas of newspapers.

Could you tell us a little about your career trajectory?
I was born a long time ago in a tiny fishing hamlet in ... actually, no scrap that it's going to take far too long. How about this: graduated from university with a degree in social anthropology. Commenced a career in marketing. Moved into newspapers. Now specialise in marketing strategy and consumer insights.

Can you tell us more about your role as Readership Director at The Herald Sun?
It's a funny little job title. I'll let you into a secret - I made it up. In essence, my role is a senior marketing one charged with helping to make the entire business more "customer-centric". Our two main customers are readers and advertisers and so my role sees me working across all major business units. I head up all market research that we undertake at HWT, which ultimately fuels our strategic thinking and contributes to the strategic planning process. I just made all that up too, you like?!

You've worked in the newspaper industry for over 10 years, what makes you excited about it?
What excites me is that I'm half way through my life sentence and will soon be eligible to apply for parole. But seriously, the thing that excites me most is working with such strong brands which ultimately help to connect people - connecting them to their interests, connecting them to eachother and connecting them to the wider society. "Newsbrands" on all content platforms i.e. print, digital, mobile - will continue to play an important role in society for many decades to come.

What are some of the differences in the newspaper industry in the UK and Australia?
I think the Australian newspaper sector is in a much stronger position that the UK newspaper sector right now. In fact, I wrote an article recently on this and as a shameless self-publicist it would be inappropriate of me not to mention it here: http://www.slideshare.net/AdamJoseph/newspapers-waving-not-drowning-bt-feb-2009

You have a column in B&T magazine, how do you find trying to think of ideas for your column? And what kind of response do you get from readers?
Great question. Inspiration for columns can come from all manner of different places. Things that make you laugh out loud or snort with anger are usually good places to start. Things you hear that send your bullshit-detector into DEFCON 1 status are good. And all the usual suspects - things you read in newspapers, conversations you have with people, conference speakers you heckle etc. Inspiration is a bit like perspiration - it can come from almost anywhere, given strenous enough exercise.

As for reader response to my columns, I'm really not sure - but I tell you what, I have both of their phone numbers so I'll call them up and get back to you if that's OK? If they're still talking to me that is ...

You have seen many journalists and writers in your time, what do you think makes a good one?
I'm not a journalist but I do enjoy writing - I'd probably describe myself as a "marketing writer". To your question, I think the profession of journalism is similar to the profession of marketing in that there are several different "segments" of the craft. These range from old-school investigative journalists, to opinion columnists, to feature and lifestyle journalists and so on. For me, a "good" journalist tells an engaging story with good illustrations and uses humour wherever possible.

What is your best advice for young people who want to go into the media industry? And may even want to branch out to the marketing side of things?
Go see a head doctor. No, my honest advice would be to study hard, network harder and try to get on the career ladder on any rung that you can within in the media sector, even if it's not your "dream job" or in fact anything like it. Then work really hard and do your best to get noticed. As for subsequently branching into marketing, I'd suggest joining the "Emerging Marketers" group which is part of the Australian Marketing Institute. And then go from there.

Interview: Susan Maushart, Writer

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Posted by Laura Valerie | Posted on 8:38 PM

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I have a Saturday morning ritual. I wake up, make myself a cup of tea (T2's French Earl Grey is a current favourite) and ravenously devour The Weekend Australian Magazine, front-to-back, back-to-front and side-to-side. Without a doubt, it is one of my most beloved Australian publications, along with frankie and The Monthly, never failing to satisfy with its cutting-edge, high calibre feature articles by such journalistic greats as Caroline Overington and Richard Guilliatt (speaking of whom, Guilliatt's latest, Justice in Black and White, is a brilliant read) and ever-thoughtful, ever-pertinent opinion columns by Philip Adams, Ruth Ostrow and, my favourite, Dr Susan Maushart. So you can imagine how pleased I was when Susan so generously granted me a lovely interview, especially for this blog.

Susan has been a columnist at The Weekend Australian Magazine for over a decade. She also holds a PhD in Media Ecology from New York University, has written five award-winning, best-selling books (the latest, The Winter of Our Discontent, will undoubtedly speak volumes for young social media addicts like me), hosts Multiple Choice on ABC radio and is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at UWA. Susan writes about feminism, technology, Australian culture, motherhood and marriage, among countless other topics pertaining to the tricky navigation the modern world, from a fresh, female perspective. For those of you unfamiliar with Susan's work, some of my favourite of her recent columns include It's a Visionary Thing, Green Haze, Rose-Tinted Bifocals and Boys Will Be Girls (the latter even features my "genial" former high school principal). As you will be able to tell from reading her interview, Susan has a warm, engaging writing style that is easily identifiable and always entertaining. 
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I remember writing a passionate declaration of my intention when I was 12. How I wish I could see that now. But I didn’t really do much about it til I found myself a single mother with three kids under five. I made a leap of faith out of academia, and the safety of imminent tenure, to try my luck as a freelance writer. And it turned out I was lucky.

What is your writing routine?
When I am writing a book, it’s every day from 8 am til I reach 1000-3000 acceptable words. (It’s a sliding scale based on how close to deadline I am!)

What do you read?
Lots of stuff online; The New Yorker, religiously; I love science writing – currently reading a book about parasites by evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk - and read across a wide range of journals; impatiently awaiting my copy of Franzen’s Freedom at the moment … like to revisit classics and keep up with literary fiction.

Which writer do you most admire and why?
I always say (because it’s true) that Walden is my favourite book, because it is like a well that, no matter how buckets you draw from it, never runs dry. The contemporary author whose books I get most excited about is probably Anne Tyler, for her humour, humanity and utter lack of hubris.

What inspires you?
Lots of stuff. My kids. My reading. Animals. Photos. Eavesdropping. WNYC. Hunger …

What do you love about being a writer?
Freedom. I have enormous freedom - intellectually, creatively, organizationally, even geographically - as a writer. I treasure that.

Do you have an over-arching message that you would like to communicate through your writing?
I see myself as a critic. I am always working to get underneath. And if I believe passionately in anything – and these days being passionate is de rigeur … - it is in fallibility: my own included.

What are you working on at the moment?
I have three book ideas jostling for attention right now – one about home, one about hair, and one about reading.

What are your writing goals for the future?
To keep making a living at doing work that engages me and speaks to others.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Read like nobody’s watching (‘cause they’re not). Write as if it were a job, not a hobby (or it always will be).

(Pictures courtesy of Random House)

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