Internship a step closer to foreign journalism
by Geraldine Hinter
The realisation of a dream to be a foreign correspondent could
soon be one step closer for UniSA journalism and international
studies graduate, Catherine Graue (pictured), who has been awarded
an internship with Deutsche Welle in Germany for six months,
starting in July.
Deutsche Welle broadcasts German and European news throughout the world in 32 languages on radio, television and online, including locally on ABC and SBS radio and community television stations.
A partnership between the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and Deutsche Welle, the internships help the international broadcaster to train future employees and develop partnerships with the people they broadcast to in Australia.
Internships are offered to two people from around Australia each year. Applicants must have worked in community media, be able to speak some German and have some work experience.
Graue did an exchange in Germany in 2006/07 as part of her degree. She also has been Chief-of-Staff for UniSA’s online student newspaper The Warbler and has worked for ABC Radio in Adelaide and Southern Cross Television at Port Lincoln.
"While working at Radio Adelaide, I was encouraged to apply for the internship," Graue said. "My application was accepted and I will leave this month to work in the English radio department in Bonn.
"My internship will involve hands-on training in different departments doing programs that concentrate on areas such as youth, current affairs, and radio and online news. I will be presenting programs and have the chance to travel.
I will be working in English but will need to know German for everyday life, to interview non-English speaking people and to keep on top of all of the news in print, on radio and TV.
I really want to take advantage of that and to improve my German," she said.
"This will be my first step towards doing foreign journalism. I’ve always considered myself a worldly person, having lived overseas with my parents, and having travelled widely.
"I’m at this stage in my life where people say, ’the world is your oyster’, and it really is. I’ve got my university degrees behind me, thanks to UniSA, and now I’m going to take advantage of that knowledge and explore the opportunities."