Taking Multicultural New Zealand Into The Newsroom

Taking Multicultural New Zealand Into The Newsroom

http://www.aut.ac.nz/news/aut-news/2010/august/taking-multicultural-new-zealand-into-the-newsroom

AUCKLAND (AUT University/Pacific Media Watch): AUT University’s new Graduate Diploma in Pacific Journalism, which aims to address the shortage of Pasifika journalists in New Zealand, is gearing up for its first batch of students in 2011.

The diploma is aimed at those already working in other industries, as well as graduates from New Zealand and the Pacific region. As a new diversity initiative, it has already attracted support from people in the media industry.

"What an exciting time for journalism education and upcoming journalists,” says New Zealand Herald Pacific Affairs reporter Vaimoana Tapaleao, an AUT communication studies graduate and winner of this year’s Qantas Junior Reporter of the Year award.

“The course will no doubt attract upcoming gems in the journalism world but most importantly help to take multicultural New Zealand into the newsroom,” says Tapaleao.

Dr Alan Cocker, head of the School of Communication Studies, says: “We teach journalism in a New Zealand and Pacific context and we have, over a number of years sought to strengthen our Pacific focus.”

Enrolments for the diploma are open now, and a programme leader is expected to be appointed in October.

ENDS

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