Learn what it’s like to live down under while boosting your career with a journalism and media internships in Australia. In Melbourne, a journalism intern will get that vital real-world experience working alongside established industry professionals. The key to launching a career in the competitive journalism industry is obtaining that initial professional experience. An internship abroad helps young journalists get that vital “in” into the industry. Moreover, doing an internship in new country adds a whole different layer of depth to the experience. Learning about key issues in Melbourne and seeing different approaches to media in Australia will give a young journalist a fresh eye and international perspective.
Working in journalism in a foreign country also offers interns a unique opportunity to hone skills alongside experienced media professionals that come from a different cultural background. Working in an environment outside your home culture with people from diverse backgrounds is immeasurable experience for a future journalist. Interns will learn to adapt quickly to the new city, culture and work environment – a vital skill for budding media professionals as the industry is rapidly evolving all around the world.
Journalism and media internships in Australia offer excellent roles to interns interested in magazine and broadcast journalism. Previous interns have worked at established media like the magazine Anthill. As Australia’s second biggest city, Melbourne has an established media industry. The city boasts six free-to-air television networks with numerous television channels. The city also has a thriving television industry with several locally produced shows and over 3 million radio listeners, according to Nielson Company statistics. Melbourne is also home to two major newspapers and a minor paper, along with many small local papers.
Living in Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia, journalism and media interns will have an eclectic array of shops, restaurants, cafes, museums and zoos to visit when they’re not busy at their internships. With one of the largest populations of people of Greek decent, along with immigrant communities from China, Italy, Vietnam and Lebanon, the city boasts a rich cultural diversity and lots to do.
Despite being based in a large, metropolitan city, interns in Melbourne can still enjoy animal life by visiting the Healesville Sanctuary, which is both a zoo and aquarium. At the sanctuary visitors can play and interact with authentic Australian wildlife. The zoo has everything from Dingos to Bandicoots. Melbourne’s surrounding areas also have a lot to offer an intern abroad in terms of wildlife experiences. A day trip to the nearby Phillip Island offers visitors the chance to see the impressive penguin parade, which occurs around dusk. On the island there is also a Koala Conservation Centre and the Nobbies rock formation.
Nature lovers can also enjoy 40 hectares of greenery at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The gardens are divided into three sections, one featuring a Victorian style garden while the other two are more like open parkland.
Melbourne’s bohemian sector Fitzroy is a favorite among hip locals and visitors. Those looking for a little culture can pop into local art galleries or specialist bookshops like Brunswick Street Books and Polyester. Shoppers looking for something nostalgic and unique can check out the slew of vintage shops the neighborhood has to offer, like Vintage Sole and Somebuddy Loves You. For interns looking to check out the local art scene, the Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery.
Interns shouldn’t have a problem finding something good to eat after a challenging day at their journalism and media internships. Reflecting its diverse population, Melbourne offers foods from all over the world. Chinatown is great for those looking for a Szechuan dish. Restaurants in ‘Little Italy’ in Carlton will serve up the city’s best Italian. Meanwhile, Spanish and Lebanese cuisine can be found in Fitzroy and Brunswick, respectively. The city is chalk full of cafes, bars, restaurants, late-night dining and breakfast places with creative and diverse menus, high-quality food and welcoming interiors.
An intern in Melbourne shouldn’t miss a visit to Queen Victoria Market during their stay, where shoppers can buy anything from fresh Australian fruits to clothing and cool collectables. Another interesting local activity is the Blood on the Southern Cross sound-and-light show, which tells the story of the Eureka Uprising, one of Australia’s most significant historical events. The uprising of the local gold miner population against the UK’s rule began a long string of civil disobedience that helped the white male population earn the right to vote.
With the highest number of live music venues in Australia, Melbourne is an excellent place to see a number of bands, both local and from around the world. For a sweat-soaked t-shirt and a taste of up-and-coming bands, music-lovers frequent venues like Cherry or Ding Dong Lounge. More low-key scenes are located near Brunswick, and include Cornish Arms and Sydney Road, which host a number of country, roots and folk bands.
Achieving a career in journalism and media can seem daunting for inexperienced individuals wishing to enter the field. An internship abroad will boost a budding professional’s skills, giving them real-world experience that is bound to catch the eye of industry employers.
Sources: Frommer’s, Wikipedia, visitmelbourne.com
Photo 1 based on so melbourne by Alan Lam, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2 based on snot spaghetti springtime by Jes, CC-by-2.0
Photo 3 based on Melbourne, Brunswick Station 2012 – Full wall: Dvate Pawn Wane Tiws by Twis, CC-by-2.0