Tahnee Jash has been named the 2021 Walkley Young Indigenous Scholarship with Junkee Media and 10 News First supported by BHP.
Tahnee is a proud Yuin/Kamilaroi woman who grew up in western Sydney, on Dharawal and Darug country. Born to an Aboriginal mother and Fijian/Indian father, Tahnee’s culture and family ignited her passion for storytelling. An emerging TV reporter, Tahnee studied a Bachelor of Communications and currently works in marketing for the ABC.
Tahnee will begin a 12-week scholarship in September, taking turns to spend six weeks with Junkee Media and six weeks with 10 News First in Sydney.
The judging committee included Ross Dagan (Network 10), Shannan Dodson (Media Diversity Australia) and Gyan Yankovich (Junkee Media).
The judges said: “Tahnee’s enthusiasm is infectious. She shows extraordinary drive to develop her journalistic skills, while helping advance the conversation around Indigenous issues. We can’t wait to see what she achieves at Junkee and 10 News First.”
Tahnee will be supported by a $10,000 stipend each to cover living expenses for the duration of the scholarship, thanks to BHP. She will also be matched with a mentor from the industry.
Gabrielle Notley, Head of Corporate Communications, BHP, said: “Creating opportunities to develop emerging talent and foster a new generation of strong and diverse media professionals will strengthen the important role media plays in our regions and our cities. Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in media is important, and we hope this experience will help build Tahnee’s experience and skills as her career develops.
Aspiring Indigenous Australian journalists aged 30 years and younger were invited to apply for this opportunity to develop their newsroom experience with two leading news providers.
Thanks to our partners for supporting this program:
About Tahnee
Tahnee Jash is a proud Yuin/Kamilaroi woman who grew up in western Sydney, on Dharawal and Darug country. Born to an Aboriginal mother and Fijian/Indian father, Tahnee’s culture and family ignited her passion for storytelling. After the unexpected death of her uncle when she was 15, Tahnee felt the power of Australian media and the damaging effects it can have. Determined to flip the script on how Indigenous people are represented in mainstream media, Tahnee studied a Bachelor of Communications and became the first in her family to graduate from university. She now works for the ABC, and is an emerging reporter and TV presenter who enjoys writing about sex & relationships, health, and wellbeing.
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Please contact Walkley Foundation Communications Manager Clare Fletcher on 0432 616 810 or clare.fletcher@walkleys.com.