University of Canberra Internship Portfolio
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For my Professional Practice Internship unit at the University of Canberra, I had the unique opportunity of spending my 200-hour work placement requirements at two different organisations. Whilst not unheard of for Sports Media specialised Media and Communications Undergrads, I was very fortunate to not only split my time between two organisations but two very different players in the media space in Australia. For example, half of my time was spent at Canberra-based news and lifestyle media company, Region Media and the other half at one of Australia's peak sporting organisations the Australian Olympic Committee.
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My responsibilities, assigned tasks and supervision levels varied a lot during my time at both organisations and I feel my time at both gave me a comprehensive understanding of not only the media industry but the way different organisations operate on a day-to-day level and understanding their varying resource levels. At Region, I was a Digital Media Producer intern and had tasks ranging from editing videos and podcasts to on-site filming content for their written articles. This content was utilised across a variety of media mediums and channels and I was based 95% of the time in their office around the corner from Parliament House.
Contrary to my experience at Region Media, my time at the Australian Olympic Committee saw me undertake mostly writing and content management tasks. Tasks and responsibilities I was not exposed to during my first internship. I was required to undertake research on athletes destined for the Paris Olympics in a variety of sports and complete a publishable biography for them ready for the upcoming Olympic Games. This internship was a work-from-home arrangement and was completely self-managed which had its pros and cons as I discovered throughout my internship journey with them.
Overall being exposed to such a large variety of tasks in a professional environment throughout my 200-hour Internship requirement has filled me with extra confidence and has reaffirmed to me that I am capable of producing content to a professional standard. Coupled with my supervisor's feedback, I feel more than equipped to continue my journey in the media industry. Not only was the variety of tasks a welcomed experience but the variety of organisations as well.
Joshua Groch at the Royal Australian Mint for Region Media
For example, Region Media is a company that owns various brands and IPs and produces content for a variety of publications, predominantly in News, Real Estate and Lifestyle with the majority of my work being for locally based brands such as the RiotAct (General News) and "This is Canberra" (Instagram Channel). Compare this to the Australian Olympic Committee (HQ based in Sydney) whose sole purpose is around the various Olympic Games and promoting their member sports and athletes. Coupled with that, the organisation is considerably bigger and acts as a government organisation despite being privately funded.
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All in all the different organisations, their size, their locality and the subject matter have made the internship experience a positive one and a welcomed addition to my CV as I move beyond the university's shadow and onto the next stage of my career.
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The first 100 hours of my Professional Practice Internship were spent at Canberra-based news and entertainment publisher Region Media Group. Region Media boasts seven publications across ACT, NSW and QLD and has several social properties. These social properties vary in subject matter from food & restaurants to music and real estate.
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During my time at Region Media, I was part of the small media production team under the supervision of Michelle Kroll. Michelle has decades of experience in media production including 10+ years as a Photographer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
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For ten weeks between March and May I spent one and a half days a week in the Canberra office contributing to Region Media's weekly media obligations. A typical day would see me come into the office and be given several tasks to complete over the course of the day. These tasks varied and included going on-site to film content, edit and colourgrade video content and edit weekly news podcasts created by the editorial team.
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Some of the most regular tasks included editing and colour grading Region's weekly Zango real estate Youtube video (see pictured) and editing various Instagram Reels for Region's Instagram channel "@this.is.canberra". Examples of this content can be seen below.
Internship #1 - Digital Media Producer
Region Media Group
Instagram Reels
Producing social media reels for Regions Instagram channels was one of my major responsibilities during my Digital Media Producer internship. My contribution varied from project to project and mostly consisted of editing pre-filmed content into an engaging 30-second video format and passing it on to the relevant account manager in the business team. However, there are examples of myself producing end-to-end video content with Region Media. Tasks involved in producing end-to-end content include liaising with the business, directing, filming and editing the video content. Some examples can be seen below for local Canberra businesses "Fav Cup Cafe" and "Kivotos Wine Bar".
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Region Media utilised their Instagram channels such as "This is Canberra" to create "warm leads" for their business team. This worked one of two ways, firstly a business looking for promotion would reach out to the page and if someone was available they would go to the business and create a collaborative Instagram reel to post on Region's "This is Canberra" Instagram page. The second way was that a member of Region's business team would reach out to a business via the Instagram page and offer the collaboration. Region's media production team would create the video reel for free in both circumstances with the hope of soliciting more business from them in the future.
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During my time at Region, I was involved in the production of several Instagram Reels and as of June 2024 they had collected over 60K views over 600 likes.
Camera: iPhone 15 Pro
Editing Software: CapCut
Platform: Instagram
Fav Cup Cafe
The Fave Cup Cafe Instagram Reel was the result of the Cafe reaching out to the "This is Canberra" Instagram in search of promotion.
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After reaching out to the business team, the project was allocated to the Media Production team and the task of producing it was assigned to me. My supervisor locked in the filming date with the business team and the potential client, and I attended the business on my own in the company car. During my time at the cafe, I liaised with the business owner and set up and filmed the various shots and sequences within a few hours.
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Once the filming was completed, I headed back to the office to begin the editing process. The video was completed within a week around other time-sensitive edits and was passed onto the business team for approval and publication.
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The final product was posted on Region's "This is Canberra" Instagram page in mid-May 2024 and earned 63 likes and over 6K views in its first month. The Reel created a warm lead for Region Media's business team and was approved and published unaltered by my supervisor.
Kivotos Wine Bar
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Like the Fav Cup Cafe Instagram Reel, Kivotos Wine Bar reached out to the "This is Canberra" Instagram for promotion.
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Unlike the Fave Cup Cafe Reel, the process for getting this video to publish was slightly unorthodox and didn't go through the traditional production process. After the business team was contacted via the social media channel, I was contacted directly by the business team and asked if I would like to attend the restaurant alongside one of my colleagues to film and produce, skipping the media production team altogether.
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After on-site filming, the project was then put into the regular media production team editing schedule which I subsequently picked up and completed. The video was completed within two weeks of contact from the venue and published on Region Media's social media channel on the 5th of April 2024 after being approved by the business and production team with minimal edits.
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The final product was published on the "@this.is.canberra" Instagram page under the company's "First Look" group of videos. As of June 2024, the Kivotos Wine Bar video had been liked 140 times and viewed over 11,000 times. This reel was one of Regions' top-performing Instagram Reels of 2024 so far.
Camera: iPhone 15 Pro
Editing Software: CapCut
Platform: Instagram
Riotact Article Videos
Aside from social media content for potential clients and to populate relevant social IPs, most of Region's video and production demand came from pre-existing paying clients and the news/editorial teams. These videos were generally published on YouTube and later embedded into written articles on the Riotact website. The Riotact is Region's most prominent IP as it is one of the largest independent news media outlets in Canberra and boasts a large online readership.
Shooting a weekly Zango video with the Black Magic camera.
One of the most regular videos the Media Production team would produce and publish for Riotact would be the weekly Zango Real Estate videos. These videos would be an interview/walkthrough style of video with a real estate agent for Zango's featured property of the week.
These featured properties would also generally be on the cover of Region Media's weekly property guide magazine and seemed to be a part of a coordinated marketing campaign for whatever property/real estate had the featured slot for that given week. The videos were hosted by Canberra radio host Cam Sullings who would interview the agent over b-roll footage of the property we would shoot whilst on location. These shoots would generally be done with a high-end Black Magic camera on a tripod with radio mics for audio.
​On the editorial side of things, the videos and their production would vary greatly depending on the subject matter, journalist and the allocation of time resources. For example, some journalists were more adept with the portable camera kits supplied by the Media Production team and would be happy taking them out themselves and editing their videos. For context, the portable camera kits consisted of an iPhone 15 Pro inside a cage that could have microphones, lights and tripods attached to it. These kits were colloquially known in the office as "Mojo kits". My contributions to the editorial team videos varied from full end-to-end production to just operating a camera.
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During my time at Region, I was involved in the production of several videos for the Riotact. One of the biggest challenges I faced was utilising programs such as Da Vinci Resolve to colour-grade videos shot on the Black Magic camera. Colourgrading is a process in video production that I had very little experience and exposure to which by the end of my internship I felt proficient in. Some of the best examples of my video production for the Riotact can be seen below.
Editorial shoot at the Royal Australia Mint
Video: King Charles Proof Coin Release
Video use: Editorial
Role: End-to-end production
Equipment used: Mojo Kit (iPhone 15 Pro)
Editing programs used: CapCut
Video: 47 Fred Williams Crescent
Video use: Zango Partnered Content
Role: Camera operator, colour grader & editor
Equipment used: Black Magic Camera with radio microphones
Editing programs used: Da Vinci (colour grading) & Final Cut Pro.
Video: 21 Sparkes Close
Video use: Zango Partnered Content
Role: Camera operator, colour-grader & editor
Equipment used: Black Magic Camera with radio microphones
Editing programs used: Da Vinci (colour grading) & Final Cut Pro.
Video: Vinnies Sleepout Parliament House Presser
Video use: Editorial
Role: Camera operator
Equipment used: Black Magic Camera with radio microphones
Editing programs used: N/A
Region Media Summary
Overall, my experience at Region Media provided me with insights into a working independent news and media organisation and what it takes to perform at a professional level in that environment. It also provided me the opportunity to produce high-quality work to a professional standard that I am proud to include in future portfolios. On top of the work and insights, the opportunity at Region Media also allowed me to expand my professional network which I'll be able to leverage in the future if the opportunity arises.
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Some of the biggest challenges faced during my time at Region was learning new editing programs and company processes. For example, learning how to colourgrade on Da Vinci Resolve and utilising Regions Clodu Storgae services and file naming standards. Overcoming these challenges has provided me with newfound skills and enhanced others to the point where they will continue to be an asset to me moving forward.
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During my tenure at Region, I also expressed interest in continuing with the company post internship off the back of the positive feedback and outcomes I had received during my time as a Media Production Intern. Despite the positive feedback, an internal crisis had put a stop to all new employment and renewal processes for the forseeable future closing the door on that opportunity short term.
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My experience at Region had further highlighted to me some of the skills and professional attributes I felt I had going into the internship. Some examples include my professionalism, strong communication skills, versatility and my ability to learn new skills quickly. These skills and traits I feel will serve me well as I move towards the next stage in my career. ​
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Looking out from the AOC Office during my Sydney visit.
Internship #2 - Digital Content Writer (Athlete Bios)
The second 100 hours of my internship were spent working for the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) in the Media and Communications content department. The AOC is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation that focuses on the development of youth and sports and has the responsibility to select, send and fund Australian Teams to the Olympic Games.
Not only does the AOC provide support to the Summer Olympic Games, but it plays a role in all Olympic Game team selections including the Youth Olympics, Paralympics and the Winter Olympics. The AOC's head office is located on Circular Quay in Sydney and at the start of my internship I had the pleasure of meeting some of the team in person after travelling on my own accord.
During my time at the AOC, my primary role and responsibilities were to research and write selected athlete bios for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games as an athlete biographer. This role was a part of the greater Media and Communications team and the Digital Content department. My direct supervisor and main contact at the AOC was Jeff Dickinson-Fox who held the title of Digital Engagement Manager.
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Researching and writing the biographies were a mostly self-managed task conducted for 100 hours over the course of 10 weeks. The internship was a work-from-home arrangement and required discipline and good time management to be able to achieve all outcomes without any supervision or easily accessible in-person assistance.
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At the AOC, I researched and wrote biographies for a range of sports including Golf, Wrestling and Rowing. There was also a requirement to research and learn more about Olympic-specific events such as the Modern Pentathlon. Other responsibilities included obtaining and cropping photos suitable for our articles and managing our content on the AOC's website via their content management system Drupal.
Published Bios and Athlete List
Across my 100 hours with the AOC, I researched and completed over twenty biographies across five different Olympic sports and events. The need for biographies was due to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games with many of the existing athlete biographies not being updated since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On top of that, it appeared many new Olympians were looking at being picked for their respective sports, therefore a biography was needed. The overall goal of these biographies was to provide the AOC, athletes, their friends, family, fans and the media with interesting biographies through thorough research and attention to detail.
Example of published athlete bio preview
My knowledge and experience of these sports, athletes and events varied greatly from being a competitor and consumer to having never heard of them before. This made researching and engaging with some of the sports challenging at times.
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The five sports I covered for the AOC website included:
- Golf
- Wrestling
- Rowing
- Modern Pentathlon
- Table Tennis
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On top of researching and writing bios, I was also tasked with finding suitable images and social media snippets to embed into the website to enhance the written aspect of the biographies. Using the AOC style guide I was also required to find and crop suitable images for "preview" and "profile" images that would be prominent to each individual athlete. All images were sourced via "Getty's Images" utilising the AOC's editorial subscription.
An Example of a Getty's Image search for Australian golfer Hannah Green
​It's worth noting that all biography assignments and progress were recorded in an organisational Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Communication with my supervisor Jeff was conducted via multiple communication channels including Microsoft Teams, email, phone and text. I found value in the utilisation of all the channels and felt they were appropriate for certain types of messages, ie upcoming team selection announcements and internship updates.
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Twenty-eight days out from the Paris Olympics there are currently eleven athlete biographies that I had a hand in researching and writing that are currently published on the AOC website.
Published Biographies as of July 2024 can be found below:
Wrestling
AOC Summary
Overall, my experience as an athlete biographer at the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) provided me with incredible insight into the inner workings of one of Australia's premier sporting organizations. Although not as hands-on as my internship at Region Media, this role allowed me to develop my sports media skills, particularly in writing.
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One major challenge of this internship was working from home and managing the workload with little direction from the Media and Communications team in Sydney. At times, I felt lost due to the lack of hard deadlines at the beginning of the internship. This experience highlighted my preference for having all the necessary information before starting tasks.
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Despite not being a fan of writing, I found a sense of pride and accomplishment in seeing my biographies published on the AOC website. This experience highlighted to me the importance of my small contributions to Australia's Olympic team and their presence at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
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The highlight of my internship was visiting the AOC office at Circular Quay in Sydney and participating in a social volleyball match with the Media and Communications team. Researching and writing about PGA golfing professionals representing Australia at the Paris Olympics, and receiving an Australian Olympic shirt, are fond memories I strongly associate with my time with the AOC. These highlights as well as sharpening my skills in writing have definitely added to my Sports Media toolkit and will serve me well as I finish my time at University and move back into the workforce.
Finding credible information for the biographies was another significant challenge, especially for lesser-known sports like the Modern Pentathlon. Credibility issues often arose when researching athletes with poor social media presence or limited online resources. Additionally, gathering information about athletes not originally from Australia, such as Russian-born wrestling Olympian Georgii Okorokov, was difficult.