The Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
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Sharlene Baldo commenced in January as our most recent Regional Youth Journalism Fellow.
Just a few weeks in, Sharlene is relishing the opportunity to be paid to learn and build her skills in The News newsroom.
For local young people interested in a career in journalism, the Regional Youth Journalism Fellowship provides a wonderful option for the successful applicant to gain valuable job application and interview skills, on-the-job learning, experience and connections right here in their home community.
Here is what Sharlene had to say of her experience to date:
“When I first received a call back from Shepparton News after the interview a few days prior, I was speechless to find out I had been accepted,” she said.
“I was sitting in a study space while it happened, with my fellow peers around me furiously revising for upcoming exams.
“As my secondary education passed by in the blink of an eye, and I found myself graduating and taking a step into the big world, I promptly started my first week.
“I was given a short while to settle in before being bombarded with information about everything all at once.
“I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but getting to learn about something entirely new is one of the most enjoyable aspects of understanding any job, so I was more than eager to tackle the challenge.
“So far, I’ve been able to experience a whole variety of work, including accompanying other journalists on jobs to observe their ways of information gathering, experimenting with photography, even submitting my own for events I’ve attended, and getting to practise writing articles for when my learning period is over.
“Working here has really expanded my once limited insight within the community, giving me the opportunity and privilege to interact with members of the public and learn about their stories in ways I hadn’t done previously.
“Being a cadet journalist for The News is a wonderful opportunity for those who have a passion for writing, learning, questioning and solving the unknown, and I would definitely recommend applying.”
Sharlene is the third young person to be accepted into the Fellowship program, which commenced in 2024.
It sees successful applicants undertake a full-time three-month placement at the The News that is coupled with invaluable support and mentorship of Melbourne Press Club journalists to provide guidance and advice.
Greater Shepparton Foundation is thrilled to be able to offer local young people the opportunity to benefit from the Regional Youth Journalism Fellowship, which had been made possible due to our partnership with McPherson Media, Melbourne Press Club and with financial support from the Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation.
Greater Shepparton Foundation is now seeking expressions of interest from another Goulburn Valley young people to take up this opportunity later in the year.
