JOURNALISM TRAINEESHIPS

Fairfax Media CEO David Kirk speaking at the Traineeship induction, February 2006.

Fairfax Media offers an editorial traineeship program for entry-level journalists each year.

The traineeships are 12-month contracted positions, beginning in February. The positions are full-time and paid according to the MEAA journalism award.

Trainees work as journalists and attend a wide range of editorial training courses throughout the year.

Traineeship contracts are performance-based and successful trainees are offered full-time, graded positions at the end of 12 months.

Julia Medew, Melbourne Press Club’s 2008 Young Journalist of the Year

(Age trainee, 2005)

Which Fairfax publications offer traineeships?

Traineeships have been offered at:-

• The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney)
• The Sun-Herald (Sydney)
• The Age (Melbourne)
• The Australian Financial Review (Sydney)
• BRW Magazine (Sydney and Melbourne)
  

Traineeships are not offered at all publications every year.

Advertisements will outline which publications are recruiting.

Are there different types of traineeships?

Fairfax have offered:-

• Graduate Traineeships
• Cadet Traineeships
• Advanced Traineeships
• Production Traineeships
• Financial Traineeships
  

Not all these traineeships are offered each year.

Advertisements will outline which traineeships are being offered.

John Garnaut, Citigroup Economics Journalist of the Year, 2005

(SMH trainee,2002)

What do I need to apply?

Graduate Traineeship

• tertiary qualifications
• a thirst to learn
• an interest in news and current affairs
• an inquiring mind
• an ability to write news and feature stories
• good communication skills

Cadet Traineeship

• successfully completed VCE
• an interest in news and current affairs
• an inquiring mind
• good writing skills
• a thirst to learn
• good communication skills

Financial Traineeship

• tertiary qualifications (preferably commerce or economics)
• experience working in finance/business
• an inquiring mind
• good writing skills
• a thirst to learn
• good communication skills

Production Traineeship

• tertiary qualifications
• some subbing experience (at least 12 months)
• an inquiring mind
• good communication skills
• good English language skills and strong knowledge of grammar and spelling
• a thirst to learn

Advanced Trainees

• tertiary qualifications
• experienced journalist (at least J3)
• an inquiring mind
• good communication skills
• an ability to write news and feature stories
• a thirst to learn

Alexandra Smith, 2003 Walkley for coverage of Suburban and Regional Affairs

Newcastle Herald

(SMH advanced trainee, 2004)

How many traineeship places are offered each year?

The number of traineeship places varies each year depending on the needs of individual publications.

In 2007, Fairfax employed 20 trainees across The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun-Herald, The Australian Financial Review and BRW. These comprised graduate, cadet, production and financial trainees.

In 2008, Fairfax employed 13 trainees across The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review and BRW, comprising graduate, cadet and financial trainees.

Christian Catalano, Melbourne Press Club’s 2005 Young Journalist of the Year

What happens in a traineeship year?

The traineeship year starts in February with a four-week induction. This induction introduces trainees to Fairfax Media, the roles of different departments at the publications and provides an early opportunity to meet senior staff within the editorial departments. During this initial month in the classroom, trainees take part in simulated news writing exercises designed to expose them to a range of writing and reporting problems. They also begin learning Teeline shorthand.

After the induction, trainees work four days a week as junior journalists and one day a week training in the classroom. Shorthand training continues and training in areas such as news and feature writing, interviewing skills, media law, and computer assisted reporting is given. Guest lecturers are invited to talk to trainees about their experiences in journalism.

Trainees spend time working in different sections of the publication, such as news, sport, business and online, during their trainee year. Each rotation gives the trainee some experience of writing in that particular section.

During the year, trainees are also withdrawn from the newsroom for further training.

Fairfax Media Journalism Trainees, 2002

How do I apply?

Advertisements will appear in the Saturday news section of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and the weekend edition of The Australian Financial Review as well as on mycareer.com.au in July or August to announce the opening of applications.

Applications are completed online. The website address for application information will be provided in the advertisement. Applications will include an application form, short CV and a 500-word autobiographical piece in a style of your choice. Further information will be available on the online application.

In September about one quarter of applicants are invited to sit a two-hour exam. The exam includes 50 current affairs questions (covering National, Foreign, Sport, Arts, and Business) and two writing pieces (one topical and the other creative).

Each publication has two rounds of interviews beginning in October. The second interview is a panel interview with senior editorial staff.

Applicants are asked to bring a folio of up to 15 pieces of (preferably published) written work to support their application.

Updates?

For updated information on Fairfax Traineeships click here