May and Romeo Schiavon Grants (Rural and Regional Journalism Internships)

The May and Romeo Schiavon Endowment, managed by the ANZ Trustees, offers grants to support students in journalism to undertake an internship at a rural and regional newspaper in Victoria. The aim of these grants is to attract graduates to the regional news environment and strengthen regional media outlets. The one-off grants are to be used to assist with travel, accommodation and food costs.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply:

• applicants must be an Australian citizen, or holder of an Australian permanent visa
• undergraduate applicants must have completed ALJ111 Contemporary Journalism and ALJ112 Comparative Journalism Studies, ALJ216 Research for Writers and ALJ217 Editing and Design by the end of Trimester 2, 2012

Successful applicants must arrange to undertake work experience for "three working weeks" at a rural and regional newspaper(s). The media outlet must be located in Victoria, and cannot be within a 100-kilometre radius of metropolitan Melbourne, your place of residence or your campus of study. Both on-campus and off-campus students are welcome to apply.

All successful applicants will need to enrol in a Journalism internship unit (ALJ321 or ALJ322) in Trimester 3, 2012 to comply with Fair Work Act and health and safety provisions. Enrolment for Trimester 3 units close on 12 November 2012. Students can elect to complete the three weeks of work experience at more than one newspaper providing this takes place during the course of Trimester 3 (between 12 November 2012 - 1 March 2013).

Funding will be allocated when the successful applicant can show proof that work experience has been arranged with a suitable media outlet(s). This may include a confirmation letter or email sent by the employer to the Experiential Learning Officer within the Faculty of Arts and Education.

Funds must be strictly used to assist with travel, accommodation and food costs. Successful applicants must not arrange work experience in a location where they can make alternative accommodation arrangements, particularly if the applicant has immediate family in close proximity to the media outlet.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be taken into account:

• academic merit based on WAM (Weighted Average Mark);
• a short personal statement outlining the applicant's reasons (personal, professional and academic) for undertaking work experience in a rural and regional location; and
• willingness to assist in promoting the experience to prospective students (written reports, presentations, speaking engagements, etc).

Value

$3,000 to assist with travel, accommodation and food costs.

Potential Media Outlets

A list of potential media outlets students may wish to contact to undertake work experience has been compiled below. However, work at any rural and regional newspaper in Victoria will be considered. Please see www.newspapers.com.au for a detailed list of media outlets.

How to Apply

Application Form. Please submit the completed form to the Experiential Learning Officer, along with all supporting documentation as outlined above, by Friday 24 August 2012.

Contact details

For further information regarding any of the content from these pages and to submit your application please contact Experiential Learning Officer.

You may also consult the following academic staff in regards to your application: Paul Bethell or Kristy Hess

Timeline

• Closing date for applications - Friday 24 August 2012
• Provisional offer of grants - Monday 10 September 2012
• Confirmation of grants on receipt of letter from employer agreeing to internship. This letter must be produced by Friday 19 October 2012.
• Deadline for enrolment in Trimster 3 - Monday 12 November 2012
• Deadline for completion of the three weeks internship - Friday 1 March, 2012