Katherine Firkin

Reporter - Channel 7

Graduated in:

2007

Course completed:

Bachelor of Arts majoring in journalism and
Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in exercise science and exercise behaviour

Currently working for:

Channel 7

How long have you been working for this organisation?

Channel 7 - started in 2011 (Sports reporting, working on Game Day football show, and some general news reporting)

The Herald Sun - started in 2008 (working for heraldsun.com.au, Sport, Superfooty, Confidential, Sports Confidential, and in general news)

Street Press Australia - started in 2006 (writing for Spress and Australian Teacher Magazine)

Position title and short job description:

• At Channel 7 I work as a Sports Reporter, which requires me to write and voice sports packages for the 6pm news bulletin. I also work for their Sunday morning football show Game Day, and do some occasional general news stories and specials as well.
• At the Herald Sun I covered a range of areas including sport, general news and entertainment in the ‘Confidential’ section of the paper. I began by working online for heraldsun.com.au which required compiling video packages with written articles.
• At Street Press Australia I was the Beauty Editor, and also wrote some general news items and feature stories.

Working highlight so far:

There’s a few!

• Winning the AFL Media Award for Outstanding Use of the Online Medium, for multi-media stories I did on heraldsun.com.au.
• Covering several Brownlow Medal nights, Logies nights, Melbourne Cup carnivals and other celebrity functions.
• Breaking the Simon Buckley story in the Herald Sun.
• Putting together my first general news special for Channel 7.

What are the things you enjoy most about your job?

It doesn't feel like work! I get to experience things I would never see in a ‘normal’ job. One day you are covering a factory fire and the next you are at a celebrity function. It’s always changing and you never get bored. I get to meet the most amazing variety of people every day. The contacts you build in this job are amazing.

An area in which you have needed assistance:

The hardest part is getting your foot in the door - but don’t expect anyone to assist you with that!

What do you intend to do in the future?

I intend to stay in journalism. I hope to move around the organisation and try a few different roles.

#1 tip for current students studying your course:

It’s never too early to start getting experience. If you are lucky enough to get a work placement make the most of it. It is amazing how many university interns sit there and do nothing.