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Regional journalist Jessica Willard, from The Advertiser, Cessnock.
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What is the role of the regional, Australian journalist?
When people think of journalists a few things might come to
mind, but ultimately the role of a journalist is to tell stories. They gather
information and present that information as news considered to be in the public
interest.
However for a regional journalist, or for myself in
particular, my job at The Advertiser Cessnock goes far beyond just reporting
the news. Yes I am a journalist and a photographer but I am also responsible
for subbing, editing, layout as well as managing our website and social media
accounts including Twitter and Facebook. There is also no single designated
area of news that I cover. On any given days I could be writing something on
council, on a local sporting achievement, a wedding anniversary, 100th birthday
or reporting on a death, a car accident or a house fire.
It is also, by no means an 8.30am to 5pm job. I am expected
to regularly attend community events that often fall outside of 'office' hours
- a factor that ultimately plays an important role building our position as a
trusted voice within the local community.
A typical day for me includes:
- First thing: Reading the papers and searching through social media for updates. Sorting through and replying to endless emails. Making phone calls and setting up the days appointments including interviews and photo opportunities.
- Throughout the day: On a Monday Tuesday, by days mainly consist of laying out the paper and putting any final touches on stories. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday's are the days I can expect to be out of the office getting the stories and the photos. I will am also expected to continually be updating social media and our website, especially if any breaking news comes in that we want to get out straight away.
- End of the days: Writing the stories up and subbing anything that has come through on the email.
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A familiar uniform for many regional journalist - safety
helmet and fluorescent vest. Here I am on a tour of the
Hunter Expressway construction site in 2013.
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From the outset the biggest difference between a regional
journalist and a metro journalist is the diversity. While a metro paper might
have an assigned sport, political, social reporter, a regional paper like mines
relies on one journalist to cover all these areas. This said, the biggest
challenge for myself is being able to ‘cover all the fields’ and keep up to
date with all the local events and achievements. I also keep a change of
clothes (including gumboots) in my car in case a job comes up that requires me
to walk through paddocks, or more commonly for my area - vineyards.
A regional newspaper also relies heavily on the input of the
community itself – they are collectively our biggest source and our greatest
resource. Considering this it is very important to keep a trusted and healthy
relationship and always report on items that are in the public interest and yet
compassionate and understanding of the needs of the community.
This leads to the most rewarding part of my job – getting to
tell the stories of the ‘little people’. A lot of the people I come across on a
day to day basis are very hard working, humble characters who have wonderful
achievements and stories to tell. Journalists at regional newspapers might not
always be breaking the ‘big stories’, but the stories we tell are important and
ultimately they would never be heard if it wasn’t for the vital platform of a
regional newspaper.
