Intern Profile: Sophie Shaw
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, bachelor of sports journalism, christi malthouse, Cricket Australia, Crocmedia, CV, emma quayle, Interns, Internship, internship applications, La Trobe University, lions tour, mark robbinson, Media, Melbourne, network, networking, Sophie Shaw, Sports Journalism, sports journalist, Summer internship at cricket australia, the herald sun, tv presenter, Twitter, VFL Leave a comment »Today’s featured intern is Sophie Shaw.
Sophie is an aspiring sports presenter and has been networking in the industry since she was 15 years old. She has just finished a summer internship at Cricket Australia and has also interned at Melbourne metro newspaper, The Herald Sun and CrocMedia.
The basics
Sophie Shaw, 22, studying a Bachelor of Sports Journalism at Latrobe University. Graduating mid 2014.
Dream job?
TV sports reporter/presenter. Always remember watching Christi Malthouse as a boundary rider for the AFL and that’s what kicked off my desire to be a sports journalist on television.
You’ve just finished a summer internship at Cricket Australia – tell us about it.
Prior to commencing my work with Cricket Australia I had to do some serious homework. I really had no idea about cricket other than some basic rules so that was my first challenge: preparing. I printed off profiles off all the current Australian contracted cricketers and studied their history and form. I then did the same with the opposing Test teams (West Indies & Sri Lanka).
It was throughout my time at CA that I developing an in-depth knowledge of the Sheffield Shield & Big Bash competitions along with the women’s teams.
My daily jobs would begin with monitoring all of CA’s social media sites, updating these social pages and the official CA website with news and relevant content, providing live scores and updates throughout Test matches, Sheffield Shield, Big Bash, Ryobi Cup and Women’s World Cup competitions, writing articles and creating photo galleries for website, and assisting with events/marketing/PR.
I worked with camera crews on match days to film segments for CATV (CA youtube channel) and I also had to work with a team to develop and implement effective social media strategies and identify opportunities for growth. I also learnt to use photo and video editing tools as well as having complete control over the CA website. Everything that had to be added or changed on the website had to go through me.
Tell us about your previous internship experiences at CrocMedia and the Herald Sun.
My roles at CrocMedia and in the AFL department at the Herald Sun were actually quite similar. I was with CrocMedia for one day a week for most of the 2012 AFL season and I spent four weeks full-time working with the Herald Sun in February 2012.
At both of these internships I was sent out to AFL press conferences. For CrocMedia, I had to record the interviews and then edit what I believed to be the best parts of the presser for distribution. At the Herald Sun, I was sent to the pressers to find a story. At the start I found myself getting pushed to the back of the back and being too nervous to open my mouth but the end I was claiming my position up the front and demanding some answers. It would make the story that I would have to file within 20 minutes much easier to write when I knew what I was looking for.
At my time with the Herald Sun, I was also given the opportunity to attend AFL matches with high profile journalists and sit in the press box where I would watch how they went about planning and then writing their match reviews. Their stories would need to be filed within minute of the game finishing so it was very interesting to see how they do it. I once spent a night in at the MCG in the press box with Emma Quayle (from The Age) where I was her shadow for the night. The match was going one way right up until the last quarter, and it was amazing to see how Emma so calmly started all over again.
You’ve interned with some big media organisations – take us through your application process.
What I have found is that each opportunity I have been given has always led me to another, so I’m lucky that I started when I was 15 years old. You’ve got to be so determined and willing to put yourself out there. It is so hard to make it in this industry and nothing is going to come easily so I’ve never ever been afraid to ask for help. Although you may feel like you’re ‘annoying’ by continually ringing or emailing people but you’d be surprised how many people or organisations admire your desire for hard work.
I will always begin internship applications with an email, and then a follow up phone call if I haven’t heard back from them. I will always send the email with my updated media CV attached and a cover letter in the same document. My cover letter explains what I am currently doing at uni and what my career goals are. In the actual body of the email, I write a very brief description of what I do and what I’m after and I always explain that I’d be happy to have even one day of work experience if given the opportunity. Then I inform them that my CV is attached and the rest is up to them.
What is the most important thing that you learnt while interning that you didn’t learn from the classroom?
I think my internships and placements have really given me the confidence required to work in the media field. Absolutely nothing is better that on the job experience. I was never taught at uni how to hold my head high, walk into an AFL club with 15 male journalists and interupt the likes of Mark Robinson & Julian de Stoop to make sure Chris Judd answered my question in a press conference. Or how to tactically pick your spot and hold strong as other journalists try to push their way to the front.
My first press conference was outside North Melbourne Football Club and as head coach Brad Scott walked out to get in position, I casually headed towards him with the other journo’s around me. It wasn’t until I was literally blocked out by people standing directly infront of me, or having microphones held infront of my face so I could no longer see anything, that I realised I need to claim by spot in order to be good at these. You’re not going to be seen or heard standing at the back of the pack.
The pressure of deadlines is also something you learn that no book or teacher can. When you need to ‘break’ news and you’re in a situation where there may be up to five to 10 other news outlets there wanting to do the same you have to be accurate and quick.
And lastly, networking. No one can teach you how important networking within the media acutally is. Branching out, meeting people, introducing yourself and getting your name out there is something you have to do.
What’s next for you?
I’ve been continually dedicating my time to interning since a young age so honestly I’m taking my foot off the pedal for the time being after my four months at Cricket Australia over summer and going into my final year of uni. I’m lucky that I have built my resume to what it is today so I’m happy with it for now. In saying that, I have volunteered to write casually for the VFL when needed and am currently looking into the Wallabies v Lions Tour in June this year.
I’d love to be able to gain some on camera experience somewhere enabling me to create a showreel for future job opportunities. This type of work is extremely hard to find but I’m determined to do so.
Sophie shares her advice
I think I’ve mentioned it 10 times already but you have to network. Don’t be afraid to contact people or ask for help. Showing you have the passion and dedication is the best trait you can have to begin with and then doing something to make sure they remember you.
I always say what Emma Quayle told me when I asked her this exact question, “know your stuff.”
There would be nothing worse than being given the opportunity to intern and then having no idea about the sport or what is going on. Research and be prepared to learn and don’t think you’re already an expert. You might love footy and have followed it since you were four years old but be prepared to learn to accept criticism.
You can follow Sophie on Twitter.
My Interning Life Event: Getting there
Posted: April 14, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clarendon st, getting there, Melbourne, my interning life event, public transport, south melbourne, the honey bar Leave a comment »My Interning Life Event
Monday 15th April 2013
6.30pm
The Honey Bar 345 Clarendon St, South Melbourne.
Getting there
You can catch two trams directly to the venue of the My Interning Life event. Trams no.1 and no.112 both stop directly outside The Honey Bar on the corner of Clarendon & Park streets. You can catch the 112 tram from Spencer St and the 1 tram from Melbourne Central or Flinders St. After 6pm there is also street parking and across from bar on Park St there is a small carpark available.
Hope to see you there!
My Interning Life: Aubrey Hamlett
Posted: December 5, 2011 Filed under: Aubrey | Tags: Aubrey Hamlett, Beyond Coconut Water, Hibiscus, Interns, Melbourne, Sexpo Leave a comment »Hi everyone! The last two weeks have been super busy at my internship. We did Sexpo Melbourne and launched Beyond Hibiscus Infused Coconut Water.
I got to work in the Bombshell’s Babes booth with Aimme and help the girls with anything they needed. At the Beyond launch we had Lindy Klim, Lola Berry, Georgia Sinclair, Rhys Uhlich, Luke Jones, Perrick Boyer, Emma Clapham, James Purcell and many more fabulous Melbourne people in attendance.
All I can say is that both events were worlds apart and were good learning experiences. In the next few weeks I’ll be featuring interns from sports organisations and radio. Stay tuned!
Here are some photos from Sexpo and the Beyond Launch.
fellow Milk PR – Aimme Briggs
Miss Kiddle, Miss Bombshell & Miss Langmaid
Lola Berry, Georgia Sinclair
Successful Intern Profile: Carlie Bonavia
Posted: September 5, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Carlie Bonavia, Channel 31, Facebook, Fox FM, Interns, Melbourne, Myspace, Nova, Radio, Social Media, Swinburne University, SYN FM, The Matt and Jo Show, Triple M, Twitter Leave a comment »
Carlie Bonavia thought her dream job, as Fox FM’s newsreader was unbelievable. She didn’t think working as the newsreader for the Matt and Jo show would come so early in her radio career.
After graduating from Swinburne University in 2005 with a Post Graduate Diploma of Arts/Commercial Radio, Carlie worked in Lismore, NSW. She worked for commercial and talkback radio stations, writing and reading the news.
Carlie spent just over a year in Lismore, but found she wanted to explore more job opportunities. Carlie sent out demo tapes to radio stations, and one particularly to a Brisbane traffic reporter she’d befriended through myspace.
Carlie’s connection ended up referring her on to Nova Brisbane after being impressed with her demo.
“I didn’t think I had a chance in hell really, but I sent him my demo tape – he liked it so [he] decided to pass it on” Carlie explains.
After some phone interviews and a nervous couple of weeks waiting, Carlie got the job at Nova Brisbane. Carlie spent two years in the newsroom before accepting a transfer to Nova/Vega in Sydney.
Carlie stayed for nine months in Sydney before returning home to Melbourne to her current job, reading the morning news for the Matt and Jo show.
In her early high school years, Carlie decided she wanted to work as a journalist, and aimed to study journalism at RMIT. In her final year in high school Carlie found a love for radio, and started volunteering at SYN FM.
At SYN FM, Carlie hosted radio shows, did news shifts, and she helped produce and present on Channel 31.
Carlie’s work experience with SYN FM and Channel 31 would help build her folio in order to get into RMIT. Although Carlie didn’t get into her preferred journalism course, she was accepted into the Public Relations undergraduate course.
Carlie knew that PR wasn’t for her and deferred after a year of study and went on to study Arts/Commercial Radio at Swinburne.
During her time at university, Carlie began volunteering at Fox and Triple M radio stations, while continuing at SYN FM. Carlie was also required to do a two-week placement at a regional or provincial commercial radio station as part of her course.
Because of her volunteer work, Carlie was granted the chance to do some paid shifts with the Fox FM promotional team and helped answer phones on weekends for the Rove Live Radio and Hamish and Andy shows.
Carlie’s years of “loose networking” and building contacts helped her get the job she has today at Fox FM. The Fox news director already knew of Carlie and her talent from past demo tapes she’d sent in.
“Reading the news for Matt and Jo on Fox is the epitome of dream jobs for me” says Carlie.
Carlie’s job requires her waking up at 3am, and says switching her brain out of ‘news mode’ can sometimes be hard.
That’s where Carlie’s interests outside of her job, such as kickboxing and yoga, help her connect with friends and enjoy her life, despite going to bed at the same time as school children.
Carlie says her work experience has opened her eyes to other possible job opportunities, and without it she wouldn’t have discovered that radio was the right career path for her.
You can follow Carlie and the Matt and Jo show on twitter. If you are looking to gain some work experience, Carlie recommends contacting SYN FM and Channel 31.“My advice to students interested in radio would be to do as MUCH work experience as they can – not just in the specific areas they think they’re interested in, but other departments too.
A degree is great – but if you don’t have the hands on experience and industry understanding to go with it, you’re not as employable. And don’t just stick to the city stations – regional/provincial radio stations offer just as much valuable experience, even more so as you can be much more hands on there,” says Carlie.
“Facebook/Twitter is a great networking tool, when used in the right way. Don’t pester, don’t be put off if people don’t ‘add’ you – we like our privacy, email I think is the best way to be contacting radio people for feedback/advice – take on board what they say – show you’ve ‘actioned’ some of the advice they’ve given you and they’ll be more inclined to help you the next time.”
Intern Profile: Remi Gordon
Posted: August 5, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: Blog, Communications, Glamourflage, Interns, Melbourne, PR, Public Relations, Remi Gordon, RMIT, Social Media, Twitter 1 Comment »
Meet Remi Gordon, she is a 18 year old Brisbanite turned Melburnian.
She blogs, she tweets, and her dream job is to work for Channel 10 or for a fashion magazine, “just like every other PR girl out there.”
Remi has just finished a two-month internship with online beauty and cosmetics company, Glamourflage
Remi is currently at RMIT studying a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Public Relations. She hopes to graduate in 2013.
Remi is in her first year at university and decided to start interning because she wanted to “gain a broader understanding of how the industry works.” Although working in the industry isn’t a requirement until her third year, Remi decided to start early.
She searched online but felt disheartened when she realised how competitive internships are. However, Remi was determined to put the theory she was learning at university into practice.
Luckily a friend at Remi’s university knew someone at Glamourflage who was looking for interns. Cosmetics and beauty are a girl’s dream to work in. So Remi took the opportunity and got in touch with the company.
On her first day at Glamourflage, the butterflies kicked in. Remi didn’t know what to expect and discovered she’d be working in a small office environment. “Working in a smaller team was beneficial because I got more responsibility” says Remi.
She worked closely with the Glamourflage team consisting of a marketing manager, accountant and import/export manager. She says it was a very laid back environment, “everyone was very casual in jeans and sneakers”, but expectations were still very high.
Remi interned at Glamourflage one to two days a week. Her official title was ‘social media intern’, where she looked after Glamourflage’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as assisting with blog writing on the website.
Although there are some shops that stock Glamourflage’s products, the majority of their orders come via the website. Remi had to pack orders for customers and respond to call-outs from magazine editors.
Like all university students, Remi had to learn how to juggle her work load with interning and casually working at a jewellery store. She said, “[it was] difficult at first…you have to be organized but my social life and uni (sic) grades weren’t affected negatively.”
Although Remi has finished interning with Glamourflage, she believes the experience was helpful and has now steered her in the direction of fashion and TV. She feels that beauty and cosmetics isn’t the area for her but she believes that, “any experience is good experience.”
Remi’s career ambition is to one day work in television, but says she’s more realistic in hoping to work at a PR firm with a variety of cliental.
Remi also hopes to do more work experience and interning, preferably in the area of business. “It’s really important in our industry to network and gain contacts so that one day you can use those to your advantage.”
Using Twitter has also helped Remi keep in touch with prospective employers,
“I follow a lot of PR firms in Melbourne and try to interact with them where appropriate so that if the time comes that I wish to intern or apply for a job there, I have already put myself out there.”
Remi’s advice to fellow university students who are thinking about work experience or interning:
“Definitely just put yourself out there. I believe in giving things a go, and if you don’t try something, you’ll never know! Also, remember that you are there to LEARN, so don’t feel bad if something doesn’t turn out right the first or second time. Remember that the people you’re working with are professionals and have probably been in the industry for a while. Everything you do, you learn from, so even if you learn that you never want to work there again, you’ve still learnt something.”
Remi also has her own blog, Ardente Buttercup where she writes weekly posts titled, The Sunday Seven and Wordless Wednesday. You can also follow her on twitter
