Young journalist Nyibol Gatluak on her experience in the AAP newsroom as an inaugural winner of the Walkley Opportunity Scholarship.
Nyibol Gatluak was one of the inaugural winners of the Walkley Opportunity Scholarship, alongside Liam Murphy. The scholarship was launched in 2023 to address a lack of employment pathways and career opportunities for journalists from socio-economically disadvantaged communities in Australia.
As part of her win, Nyibol spent ten weeks at AAP in Sydney earlier this year. We asked Nyibol about her experience, and for her advice to those considering applying for the Walkley Opportunity Scholarship.
What was your experience like during your newsroom placement?
I had a very fruitful newsroom placement experience. Despite being an intern, I felt like I was given a lot of autonomy and I always had meaningful tasks, whether it was shadowing a reporter or writing a short story. It was really rewarding.
Some of Nyibol’s published stories:
- Migrant water safety cash call after double drowning, The Advocate, 5 April, 2024
- Festival’s inclusive focus after race and police unrest, The Senior, 8 March, 2024
- Platonic relationships blooming for Valentines Day, Daily Liberal, 12 February, 2024
How did you hear about this Walkley Opportunity Scholarship and what encouraged you to apply?
I heard about the scholarship through my university emails, and the internship coordinator sent it out to all students enrolled in journalism units.
Did you hesitate to apply for this opportunity? How did you feel when you got it?
No, I didn’t! When I saw the scholarship criteria, I felt like I was the perfect candidate. As a full-time journalism student from a culturally diverse background and a low-socioeconomic suburb, I was struggling to find opportunities. Seeing that the scholarship was a 10-week package, and all the costs were paid to travel to Sydney, it was too hard to pass by. When I got the email that I won, I was very overwhelmed yet excited.
What advice would you have for someone considering applying for this scholarship?
- Be mindful, you may not always write stories about topics you like but if you are curious and open to learning new things it’ll be a very enjoyable experience.
- Book your accommodation early as soon as you receive the dates with your host placement and try to find somewhere close to the office.
- Work on your confidence and embrace the learning experience. You have potential since you won the scholarship for a reason. No one is expecting the impossible from you—you’re just starting out as a journalist. It’s okay to be learning and growing.
- Continue applying for internships, industry jobs, and explore different newsrooms.
What are you excited about for the next steps of your career and how has this scholarship helped you?
Since concluding my internship with the AAP in April, I have interned at the Herald Sun and Nine News Melbourne. The scholarship equipped me with basic reporting skills, and the 10-week program really helped those skills flourish.
Would you have garnered the same skills and experiences without this scholarship at this early stage in your career?
Probably not, as most journalism internships are quite short. Being able to get such intimate and lengthy newsroom experience is very rare. I will be eternally grateful for The Walkleys and the AAP.
What would you like to see happen or change in the Australian media in the next five/ten years?
I would like to see more diversity in newsrooms at all levels, less sensationalism, and journalists working to make the news more engaging and digestible. Newsrooms need to become more socially aware of the content they produce and its impact on communities. As traditional media like television are declining, accommodating the upcoming generation and delivering the type of news they want to hear is a crucial step forward.
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Nyibol Gatluak Nyibol was a third-year Journalism student at Monash University when she won the scholarship. She has interests in broadcast, digital and print journalism. Nyibol is keen to share media pertaining to minority groups and rewrite narratives. Journalism allows Nyibol to have a creative outlet — as she enjoys the process of researching stories, interviewing talent and sharing media. She is now a Journalism graduate and is freelancing. LinkedIn: Nyibol Gatluak
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Applications are now open for the Walkley Opportunity Scholarships, with two aspiring journalists of any age connected with 10-week placements at SBS and the Newcastle Herald in early 2025. These placements are intended for individuals who identify as coming from a socio-economically disadvantaged background (check the criteria on the website). Each winner will receive a stipend of $10,000 to contribute towards living expenses and accommodation for the duration of the Scholarship. The deadline for applications is 30 August, 2024.