10 July 2006
CNN, Fox, Reuters, CBS and the BBC. A New York study tour is giving Monash University journalism students a rare insight into the world's leading and most influential media outlets.
Monash Journalism Department Assistant lecturer, Ms Andrea Baker said the three-week intensive study tour was a first for Australian journalism students, offering a comprehensive overview of the way such media giants operate.
"New York is the epicentre of global journalism. This tour is allowing students to witness first-hand the machinations of international journalism, and at the same time, is presenting them with a critique of that media landscape. Many of the media outlets who've agreed to take part commented on what a great opportunity this is for our students," Ms Baker said.
"Students are getting to have bit of fun too. Everyone really enjoyed being part of the studio audience for the David Letterman Show at CBS and the Fox TV show, Dayside."
The crammed itinerary has gone beyond guided tours of the world's leading broadcast, print and online enterprises. It has explored the field of journalism more broadly, with visits to places such as the United Nations media unit and alternative media outlets like FAIR Reporting, as well as leading journalism schools at Columbia University and New York University.
Ms Baker said it has been a real eye opener for the students.
"Many have become aware of the hyper-reality of North American media, and just how competitive the New York media is, with its large content base and commercial business model," she said.
While researching her thesis in New York in 2005, Ms Baker said she had built up a strong contact base, and started planning the study tour then. Students enrolled in the Applied Journalism Research unit, which is part of the Monash University Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) course, were eligible to take part.
Andrea Baker can be contacted in New York on 0011 1 646 266 0486 until July 12. (Please note: New York is 14 hours behind Melbourne). For further information contact Ms Penny Fannin, Media Communications, on + 61 3 9905 5828 or 0417 125 700.
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