Journalism student shines in Indonesian internship

UOW final year Journalism student Jacqueline Wales will have an international flavour to her CV when she graduates – with a copy of the March edition of leading Asian business magazine Globe Asia taking pride of place.

Jacqueline has three stories published in the March edition, after a highly successful internship at the Jakarta-based magazine during the summer university holidays.

Jacqueline, 23, was one of 32 journalism students and journalists from around Australia and New Zealand chosen for the summer internship program at Indonesian media organisations.

The program was organised by Murdoch University in Western Australia, and involved a two-week Indonesian language familiarisation course at Jakarta’s Atma Jaya University followed by four weeks at various media organisations.

Jacqueline was assigned to Globe Asia, a monthly English language business and economics magazine produced in Indonesia for the South-east Asian market.

“Part of the internship involved developing story ideas, then pitching them to the editors,” Jacqueline said. “I was given the go-ahead for three stories, so then I had to do the research, interviews and writing.

“It was very challenging working in a foreign country with only basic language skills, but it was also very exciting,” she said. “After making the initial contact in Indonesian I’d usually try to find someone in the organisation who spoke English.”

Before she returned home, Jacqueline learned that all three stories had been accepted for publication, and would appear in the March edition.

Jacqueline’s three stories were on:

trade opportunities between Australia and Indonesia in light of the current global economic situation

foreign financial assistance for the 2009 Indonesian general elections, including Australia’s contribution

opportunities for Indonesian businesses to make greater use of the internet and e-commerce, to take advantage of the increasing penetration of the internet in Indonesia.

“I was really excited when I found out they were using all three stories,” Jacqueline said.

“This was my first internship, so it was a bit extreme to go overseas for my first experience of a newsroom – but it was well worth it.”

Since returning to university, Jacqueline has added Indonesian language classes to her studies and is considering returning to Jakarta to work after she graduates.

“The internship really made me aware of the kind of opportunities that exist for journalists overseas,” she said.

Meanwhile, her next internship is at ABC Illawarra. It is certain to be very different from her Jakarta experience, but Jacqueline can’t wait.

Last reviewed: 17 March, 2009