Charles Sturt University student Kamin Gock was one of 8 finalists.
Kamin Gock was announced today as the winner of the Brian White Scholarship awarded by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).
Currently in his third year of journalism at Charles Sturt University, Gock said: “This is a truly amazing opportunity, I’m so thankful and can’t wait to make the most of the scholarship. My long term goal is to become a well-rounded, credible journalist who makes a positive difference in the industry through objective and investigative reporting.”
Gock, was one of eight student finalists who attended a news workshop at the Southern Cross Austereo roof top in Sydney last week. Commercial radio news directors Deborah Clay (ARN), Michelle Stephenson (Nova), Erin Maher (MMR) and Natasha Jobson (SCA) spoke to the group and set a number of challenging tasks to be completed in a short time frame.
Students were judged across a number of areas including a general knowledge questionnaire, recording a live cross to a breaking story and selecting AM and FM appropriate news stories.
Australian Radio Network, national news director Deborah Clay said:
‘We received a high calibre of applicants this year for the Brian White scholarship and Kamin Gock stood out as a journalist with outstanding potential for radio news. From presenting to writing and editing scripts to compiling a report, Kamin relished every opportunity thrown his way and asked the right questions.
“I look forward to seeing how his skills are further developed through the Brian White Scholarship, an important initiative offered by Commercial Radio Australia.”
Gock will now commence an eight-week paid work attachment in Sydney, consisting of two weeks each at Macquarie Media, Southern Cross Austereo, Australian Radio Network and Nova Entertainment.
Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia said: “The scholarship gives aspiring journalists an opportunity to learn from senior radio journalists and gain first-hand experience of how news is sourced and broadcast.
Our first scholarship winner gained fulltime employment following the work attachment. We look forward to the continued success of the scholarship.”
The scholarship is named after radio broadcaster Brian White, commercial radio’s first cadet journalist, who went on to cover wars in Vietnam and the Middle East, authored a book on politics and the media, served as general manager of 3AW in Melbourne and chaired the Fitzroy Football Club.
Applications for the 2019 Brian White Scholarship will open in March 2019.