Sydney Life

With the semester’s marks and those long awaited UAIs now out in the open the academic year is well and truly over. Empty and devoid of the bustling student masses, only a few souls are left meandering through uni’s maze of blue gauze construction passageways.

By now I’d usually have clocked up a good few days at the beach lazing around enjoying the nothingness that makes summer holidays so delectable. This year, however, I spent the first three weeks of my break doing an internship at the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific office.

It meant getting back on the train at peak hour and using my brain days after the joy of finishing exams… It was worth everything minute. Having concentrated on making 2007 a ‘work experience extravaganza’, the year has finished on a very positive note.

Strict anti-media laws imposed by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as part of the country’s November 3 emergency rule saw me walking into the IFJ office in full swing. Apart from dispatching a crisis mission to hold talks with affiliated Pakistani journalist unions and local media, we were writing press releases as news of protests and the increasing restrictions on journalists came through.

Representing over 600,000 media workers in 120 countries IFJ is the largest worldwide organisation lobbying for press freedom. It does this by organising and running programs to better educate journalists in their local environments, publishing media releases on events unfolding in the region and generally pushing for the safety, freedom and rights of journalists by condemning suppression, censorship, physical harm, threats and murder.

At the end of my three weeks I had researched and written reports on the crisis situation for journalists in Pakistan, sorted and filed incoming daily news in Pakistan as well as drafting and sending media releases, written briefing notes and letters of protests on press freedom violations in Cambodia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal and had been involved in drafting the monthly South Asia Media Solidarity Networks Bulletin and the monthly IFJ Asia-Pacific e bulletin. I also prepared background research on the status of media freedom in Burma; information which was crucial to the IFJ in developing its project work there.

Hosted by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the IFJ office exists alongside the Walkley Foundation. As the finishing touches went into organising the biggest journalistic event of the year, The Walkey Awards for Excellence in Journalism, and with a ticket for one in hand, I’d descended upon the office at an opportune time!

Held at Fox Studio’s cavernous Royal Hall of Industries the 900+ guest event sparkled with big names, great achievements and industry recognition. Filled with Australian journalism’s best, the space was adorned with richly draped gold and red tapestry, giant screens, a stage and a sea of colourful tables.

As the guests arrived I planted myself in administration. Yes, I was being ‘helpful’ but the star gazing position was fairly strategic. Working for my invite I escorted the presenters backstage throughout the first half of the evening before taking my seat, eating dinner with a glass of wine in hand and watching the big prizes unfold.

By the end of the night the bar staff were working overtime whilst people like Ray Martin and Julian Morrow from The Chaser mingled within eye distance. I sound like a hopeless 15 year old fan at a pop concert but I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t exciting!

Having said that, I was, unashamedly, at the Australian Idol final all those weeks ago. I could say I was there supporting a friend shooting the event but I was also quite happy to go and stand in amongst the screaming throngs of young girls and soak up the vibe. I found myself a spot of the red carpet next to a girl who, amidst the glittery fluro pink ‘I love Matt Corby’ placards, held up a sign with the name of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s politically detained opposition leader who has been in prison or house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years. This young girl, while cheering with all her friends, was also there lobbying for Aung San’s release and the establishment of democracy in Burma. Against the constant soundtrack of high pitched screams and pop hysteria I was privy to the powerful democratic right of free speech. There, in the more unlikely context, was someone facilitating a fundamental a basic human right, a privilege many are denied.

I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that I’m writing this with salty skin. The sky hasn’t yet been so kind to us but the ocean is as beautiful as ever. Holidays would never be half as sweet if we didn’t keep busy and work hard during the year. There’s a time and place for everything and now, summer is finally here with the added sweetness of having gained something invaluable out of a work experience placement.

So, here’s to the end of another year. Extending the ‘extravaganza’ into 2008, I’ll be off to complete an internship with the English Phnom Penh Post in Cambodia in three weeks. Congratulations to all those who now have UAIs in hand and Happy Christmas!