Student journos get sand between their toes
by Eloise Fuss*
More than 30 students got the chance to step out of the classroom and sample the reality of television journalism when UniSA teamed up with Channel 31 to cover the Adelaide leg of the SWATCH/FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tour.
From March 24 to 28, UniSA journalism and media studies students sleuthed around the Glenelg foreshore, scurrying between bronzed Brazilian biceps and the imposingly tall Russians in search of the news behind the tour.
The students were responsible for seven 30 minute bulletins that appeared on Channel 31 during the first stop in the World Beach Volleyball Tour. Students generated story ideas, conducted interviews, shot footage, wrote scripts, edited stories and presented the nightly bulletins.
"Channel 31 really meant it when they said they were going to chuck us right into it," third-year student Amber North said.
Throughout the week, students faced and embraced the challenges of television journalism. While some found the initiative and persistence required to get the good stories a confronting task, it left others filled with a strong determination to tackle the demanding industry.
Journalism student Jessica Magliulo said reporting at the World Beach Volleyball Tour had left her with a "hunger" to make it in journalism.
"I went into it liking the idea of journalism but this has made me want to do it even more," Jessica said.
When the students celebrated the experience over sausages and wine-filled plastic cups, the question of whether there should be more opportunities for "hands on" experience was asked, and responded to with the obvious answer - a unanimous and resounding "yes!"
*Eloise Fuss is a second-year student in the Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) double degree program