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