An internship can give journalism students the experience, confidence, and industry connections needed to stand out in a competitive profession, according to a University of Wollongong journalism alum.
ABC audio current affairs reporter Tanya Dendrinos said students should treat internships as an opportunity to learn, take initiative, and prove they are ready for a newsroom, rather than simply another university requirement.
“I think internships and cadetships and volunteering your time in a newsroom or any area that you might be passionate in pursuing once you graduate is vital,” Mrs Dendrinos said.
“It really helps you think, is this for me? Can I really see myself doing something like this?”
Mrs Dendrinos, who was interviewed on UOWTV’s Alumni Stories, said a three-week internship at WIN News during the third year of her journalism degree cemented her desire to pursue a career in television news.
“It was there that I really got the bug for news,” she said.
“After that three weeks, it cemented for me that that is where I wanted to be.”
The internship led her to seek further opportunities in the newsroom, returning two days a week before eventually securing her first full-time reporting role in Wagga Wagga after graduation.
She said students should make the most of every placement by volunteering for tasks, asking for feedback, and looking for ways to contribute.
“Be willing. Put your hand up,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid to jump in. Learning on the job is the best part of it.”
Mrs Dendrinos said initiative and professionalism could make a lasting impression on employers.
“They’re really important connections,” she said.
“It is true what they say about it’s who you know sometimes. Sometimes just having that familiar face, having a contact, someone saying, ‘Yeah, actually they were really keen. They really put their hand up. They really wanted to be here.’ That’s going to stand you in really good stead when it comes to applying for jobs later on.”
Reporters: Bella Mccann, Aimee Yavuzer, Laragh Michael
