ABC Managing Director, Russell Balding, advised 21 year old cadet journalist Nick McKenzie this week that he had been awarded the 2002 Andrew Olle Scholarship. He is currently based in Melbourne as a television news and current affairs reporter where he has already made some strong contributions, given his limited experience.

Balding said: “This is an opportunity for a young journalist to gain the widest possible broadcasting experience within the ABC – just as Andrew Olle did. The ABC continues to offer a unique range of radio and television training and experience, and an encouraging environment to develop the skills of film making, news reportage, investigative journalism, presentation and interviewing… I wish Nick all the best with his project. Every year presents a very difficult task for the judges, as the standard of applications is always high.”

McKenzie will join a distinguished alumni of former awardees, including Bronwyn Adcock, Emma Griffiths, Kate Jordan, Nicole Johnstone and Bridgid Glanville. He has outlined several program ideas for both radio and television covering varied topics. He sees the Scholarship taking him to capital cities, to a rural environment and overseas to gain the journalistic skills enshrined in Andrew Olle’s work.

The Scholarship, founded in 1996, is designed to honour Andrew Olle by creating career development opportunities for young ABC journalists and to promote the values that epitomised Andrew Olle’s journalism. It is open to all ABC journalists and program makers under 25 years of age.