Eleven 麻豆传媒映画 journalism student volunteers are reporting the international Indigenous Health Knowledge and Development Network conference on St Lucia campus this week.
Sessional academic, and former ABC broadcaster, Bruce Woolley is mentoring and coaching the students.
Mr Woolley said the students have the opportunity to carry out a wide range of journalism tasks.
鈥淭hey are writing copy stories, illustrating them with their own photojournalism, packaging radio news features, producing television reports, hosting their own television interviews in studio, and posting it all to our special conference website where it can be viewed by the delegates and their family and friends around the world,鈥� Mr Woolley said.
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麻豆传媒映画 Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education)Professor Cindy Shannon said students were gaining practical training in journalism.
鈥淔or me, this is a really novel and great way of teaching, and I hope that it鈥檚 been good exposure and a good grounding,鈥� Professor Shannon said.
鈥淔rom a reporting point of view, I would hope it gives some sensitivity to both the way in which things are reported, and the sorts of things you report on in an indigenous context.
鈥淭he media hasn鈥檛 always had that sensitivity.鈥�
Reporting the conference provides students with the opportunity not only to meet and interview Indigenous people from Australia, but also from North America, which is particularly pleasing to Mr Woolley, who spent two decades at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Volunteer journalism student Nicole Rowles said reporting at the INIHKD Conference was more than a practical experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a professional experience, whereby we鈥檙e required to create work that is of industry standard for a deadline, and within the context of cultural consideration and sensitivity,鈥� Nicole said.
鈥淚鈥檓 so very grateful to the University of Queensland and to the INIHKD officials for offering this invaluable educational experience.鈥�
Another volunteer journalism student Ashleigh Weidmann said learning about different cultures' wellbeing and traditions had allowed her to gain firsthand experience.
鈥淚nterviewing, editing, researching and working with fellow students and teachers have made me realise my passion for journalism,鈥� Ashleigh said.
鈥淚 am extremely grateful for having had this opportunity."
The project is part of the School鈥檚 ongoing commitment to working with and engaging Indigenous communities.
