Students showcase media work

Packed to the Rafters actor Jerome Ehlers will showcase the work of Southern Cross University media students to the chiefs of Lismore’s newsrooms tonight (Thursday, October 30).

Mr Ehlers, who plays business tycoon Tony Westaway in this highly successful new Australian drama, is also a media student at Southern Cross University.

He will help present the students’ work, which includes short films, radio broadcasts, print stories and examples of online journalism.

Southern Cross University and Sydney University this year became the first Australian tertiary institutes to offer online journalism as a subject and train graduates to work in this growth area.

The students have produced innovative online slide shows and graphics.

One student is already being commissioned by local organisations to produce their multimedia, and she has not yet graduated.

Guests at tonight’s showcase will include Sue Short, editor of The Northern Star and Rudi Maxwell, editor of the Northern Rivers Echo, North Coast bureau chiefs of Prime and NBN, along with ABC Lismore’s online editor.

Associate Professor Karen Brooks, co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Media, said while a number of graduates had already gained jobs in the industry, the night would give potential media workers the chance to network with industry professionals.

“We are fortunate enough to have some outstanding media students who are a credit to Southern Cross University and who have already found employment in print, radio and television,” Professor Brooks said.

“Their work is innovative and socially relevant and their creativity never ceases to amaze us.”

Photo: This cover design for a student newspaper is just one of the works by media students to be showcased tonight.