Two journalism students who finished with us this year have received awards for their journalism at this year’s Ossie student journalism awards. These were announced as part of the 2024 Jeraa (Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia) conference on Thursday night Nov 28 in Melbourne.
Ella Proberts Wins APC Journalism Student of Year at JERAA Ossies – Jeraa
The awards are run by Jeraa with entries welcomed from across Australia and NZ.
Our students were competing with the best in Australian student journalism and came away with two awards and one honourable mention.
Rosie Leishman won ‘Best video story (short-form) by an undergraduate or postgraduate student’ for a piece she filmed while on exchange in Denmark at a Middle Eastern market, Bazar Vest – Let the whole world come to you with the judges commenting – “Colourful and overflowing with great footage, Rosie Leishman’s behind the scenes look at Bazar Vest successfully peels back the curtain to unveil the stories of those driving the Bazar. The level of trust she has fostered with interviewees is clear and in no small way contributes to this insightful work.”
Rafaella Melo won ‘The Private Media Award for Diversity for a student from an underrepresented group’ for ‘Can we afford to live in Aotearoa?‘ with the judges commenting – “Rafaella Melo’s report was a nice balance of news and personal experience. The piece was an easy read that clearly explored the financial pressures facing migrant workers seeking a better life or a new experience in New Zealand. The judge was especially impressed by the concise, well-researched article that gave voice to several migrant workers in NZ and what sacrifices they must make to get by. This submission had all the elements of a sound news report with a clear point.”
Rafaella also received a ‘Highly commended’ for ‘Mindframe (individual, any medium, undergraduate) for reporting on a mental health or suicide related issue responsibly, accurately, and sensitively’ for Inside Out 2: Why is a kid’s movie captivating so many adults?
Judges commented – “Rafaella displayed exceptional work in highlighting the emotional depth and significance of children’s cinema for adult audiences. Through their thoughtful analysis, Rafaella effectively conveyed how a movie aimed at children can resonate just as powerfully with adults, encouraging them to recognize the complexity of their own emotions and the importance of seeking support and practicing self-care.”
