The ABC is offering a number of journalism cadetships in its news and current affairs division for 2012.
Applicants must demonstrate initiative, along with excellent research, writing and communication skills.
Successful applicants will undergo a year of training in television, radio and online news. Cadets may be required to relocate interstate and will be paid a starting salary of $47,995, increasing to $49,435 in July 2012. An opportunity to join a regional newsroom may be offered upon completion of the cadetship.
Applications close at 5pm on the 23rd of September. To apply, click here.
upstart contacted ABC’s Manager of Staff Development, Heather Forbes, for further insight into the application criteria.
How many cadetship places are available?
A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12
How many applications do you receive?
Approximately 750
What do you look for in a cadet?
- You have natural curiosity and you do not accept things at face value.
- You like to investigate and ask questions.
- You are interested in people.
- You are interested in politics and the way the world is organised.
- You are tertiary educated or in your final year of tertiary study.
- You may have worked for another media organisation.
- You have excellent communication skills – written and spoken.
- You must be able to work in a team and take direction.
- You must be familiar with a wide range of news and current affairs output including ABC news and current affairs on radio, television and online.
- You need to be able to spot a good news story.
What does the cadet test involve?
News, general knowledge and writing skills. There will be a greater emphasis on writing skills this year.
Are the candidates expected to have a journalism degree or some form of tertiary education?
We prefer tertiary educated applicants. A journalism degree is not essential.
What experience do you expect candidates to have?
We put great emphasis on work experience. If an applicant has a journalism degree but no journalism work experience they will not get shortlisted. Applicants must have done a variety of work experience in the media – it can be in broadcasting, print or online.
Is there anything that candidates can do to improve their chances of being successful?
Do lots of work experience!
What does the ABC’s cadetship program involve for the successful candidates?
We provide a year of training in radio, television and online news. There are two one week sessions of intensive classroom training in Sydney in February and July. Cadets have a mentor who is a senior journalist in their allocated newsroom. Cadets have regular meetings with their mentor and receive regular feedback. If a cadet successfully completes his/her cadetship we offer an ongoing position in one of our regional newsrooms.
Read the experiences of three ABC staff members who are all former cadets, here.
