When you study at ECU you get the opportunity to learn from legends in your chosen field.
Choose a Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting at ECU and you'll not only learn from lecturers who are working journalists and broadcasters, you'll also hear from and connect with the best in the business.
Legendary Perth Broadcasters Susannah Carr, Alison Fan and Michael Thomson have almost 150 years of award-winning journalism experience between them.
They recently visited ECU's Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting students to share their tips and impart some extraordinary behind the scenes insights.
Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting Course Coordinator Andrea Burns said she loves to get industry experts to speak to students' as often as possible.
"Meeting them is a chance for students' to pick their brains and learn – and they love it," Andrea said.
Andrea herself is a familiar face to WA audiences, having been an award-winning TV journalist and presenter with Channel 10 and 7 news and Today Tonight. She still contributes as a broadcaster and media commentator.
6PR and FOX Sports broadcaster Adam Papalia also teaches in the programme.
"He's a brilliant asset to our course," Andrea said.
Insights from Susannah Carr and Alison Fan
Andrea said Susannah and Alison's visit provided a unique opportunity for students to meet and hear from two women who have been such trailblazers in the industry.
"Alison and Susannah are WA television royalty," she said.
Both women generously shared what happened behind the scenes in some of the biggest news stories of their careers.
For Susannah, this included anchoring network coverage of Princess Diana's funeral and the Lindt café siege, while Alison's experiences ranged from covering anti-police riots in America in the 60's through to the Claremont serial killer trial here in Perth.
Michael Thomson's top tips
Michael Thomson began his career working with the Daily News in 1980. In 1987 he joined Nine News Perth where he enjoyed a long career as a sports and crime reporter before moving to reading the news full-time around five years ago.
His top three tips for students included:
- Be yourself - "Don't fake it. The viewers or listeners will sense that it's not real."
- Give everything a go - you never know what you'll be good at- and all roles are important.
- Put in the extra yards (time) in the early days of your career. "I guarantee it will be noticed."
Just the tip of the iceberg
Andrea said Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting students have already learned so much from industry experts this year, along with other guest lectures from NOVA FM, 6PR, Channel 7 and ABC radio.
"Geoff Hutchison and Nathan, Nat and Shaun came in to discuss how to create great radio. Ray Kuka, News Director at Channel 7, co-marked their first TV News assignment, and the News Director at Channel Nine is coming soon to discuss news gathering," Andrea said.
"A long-time weather bureau meteorologist taught students how to decipher weather charts, and Syan Vallance from 7 News showed them how to present weather."
Andrea said even the WA Premier Mark McGowan dedicated time to speak with students, sharing his insights 'off the record' about the politician/journalist relationship – and WA Opposition Leader Mia Davies is set to visit students soon.
To learn more about ECU's Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting visit the webpage.