REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
I interned at the ABC Queensland Country Hour over 3 weeks and completed over 75 hours of unpaid rural reporting. I shadowed and assisted the presenters Amy and Arlie as well as Jodie Gunders the Executive Producer. The following report outlines a short and brief summary of what I completed during my time there.
Monday 19th August, 2019
8:00am- 4:00pm
My first day, I was introduced to the ABC Southern Downs and the Queensland Country Hour (QCH) journalist teams by the Chief of staff. My Executive Producer is Jodie Gunders and today I worked with presenter Amy Phillips. First hour on the job, I was sent into the field with Rural Reporter Lydia Burton to a dairy farm to interview dairy farmers in regards to milk price increase. I spoke with Scott, a diary farmer who only had 10 weeks left of feed left for his dairy cattle. In the afternoon I was tasked to do Voxies (Public interviews) down at the local supermarket.
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Summary:
- Learn their radio station.
- Voxies (Interviews).
- Meet Presenters and Executive Producer.
- Travel with Rural Reporter to Dairy farm.
- Interviewed Dairy farm.
- Photograph Dairy Cattle.
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ABC Queensland Country Hour Toowoomba
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Week 1
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Amy Phillips
Thursday 22nd August, 2019
8:00am- 4:00pm
Today, I worked alongside presenter and Journalist Arlie Felton-Taylor. I was also tasked with editing my interview with dairy farmer Scott that I did on Monday. I'm using their interview editor program to adjust the volumes and delete unnecessary information not applicable to the story. After lunchtime, I assisted my executive producer Jodie Gunders in the studio room as we went to air. Jodie showed me the bells and whistles of how to operate the control panels and how to talk and assist the presenter in the other room during the live show. After the show, Arlie and I discussed our next story idea which was about wheat and grain suppliers and how their fairing this year in the drought. We visited Rural supply west of Toowoomba and spoke with their chief executive officer in regards to their season. I watched and observed Arlie as she interviewed him.
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Summary:
- Observed and assisted EP in radio studio.
- Edited my Monday interviews.
- Researched story ideas and assisted presenter.
- Travelled with Arlie to Rural supplier.
- Watched and observed her conduct an interview and assisted her in interview questions.
Arlie Felton-Taylor
Friday 23rd
August, 2019
8:00am-4:00pm
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My third day of internship experience at the Queensland Country Hour in Toowoomba was another productive day. Today, I shadowed Arlie again in the newsroom to research and edit interviews. Today I'm conducting an interview with Riverina Rural Suppliers. Riverina supples to LIvestock businesses across Queensland and New South Wales. The Dairy industry is one of their biggest clients. I spoke with their chief executive in regards to how their copping with the drought and their staff. This interview was conducted in the radio studio and afterwards I edited the interview and adjusted the sounds. It was played that day on ABC radio.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Arlie in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Conducted an interview with Riverina Rural Supplies.
- Assisted Jodie Gunders in studio room during air time.
- Edited and adjusted my interview.
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Arlie Felton-Taylor
Arlie and I on assignment and the rural supplies cat decided to commondier the ABC car. Photo: Supplied
Week 2
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Amy Phillips
Mondays 26th August, 2019
8:00am-4:00pm
Today at the Queensland Country Hour, I shadowed Amy again in the newsroom to research and edit interviews. I conducting an interview with a Vietnamese producer in Toowoomba. I was tasked to write my interview questions and edit my interview package. The interview was in regards to the beef exports to Vietnam and what part type of beef did the Vietnamese culture like most. I also assisted the EP in the radio studio when we went to air at 12pm.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Amy in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Conducted an interview with a Vietnamese shop owner in Toowoomba.
- Assisted Jodie Gunders in studio room during air time.
- Edited and adjusted my interviews.
Arlie Felton-Taylor
Thursday 29th August, 2019 8:00am-4:00pm
Today, I shadowed Arlie again in the newsroom to research and edit interviews. Today I'm conducting an interview with farmers who received bait of rain on the darling downs the previous day. The darling downs has been experiencing the worst drought on record and this was a kind of an unexpected event and surprise to people living in harsh conditions to receive some rain. I interviewed two farmers and edited the interviews to go straight into todays show. I also assisted Jodie in the studio and today former Nationals leader Tim Fischer passed away, so we broke the news on the Queensland Country Hour and called people who knew him in tribute to the former leader. ​
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Arlie in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Conducted an interview with farmers who received rain yesterday.
- Assisted Jodie Gunders in studio room during air time.
- Edited and adjusted my interview.
Arlie Felton-Taylor
Friday 30th August, 2019 8:00am-4:00pm
Today, I visited the drought-stricken township of Warwick to assist an ABC journalist writing a story about the strict water conditions implemented recently. We took the ABC drone and took photos and videos of the dry conditions and landscapes. We visited a local school and spoke to a painter, where he was painting and is affected by the strict water conditions. The painter can't properly clean the surfaces or clean his tools satisfactory without the water. This was a good break away from the newsroom and another great experience in the field.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted ABC journalist in Warwick.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Conducted an interview with painter.
- Took footage and photos.
The ABC Queensland Country Hour news room, where they broadcast from the Toowoomba studios week days at 12pm across Queensland. Photo: Ben Harden
Week 3
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Amy Phillips
Monday 2nd September, 2019
8:00am-4:00 pm
Today, I shadowed Amy Phillips in the newsroom to research and edit interviews. Today I'm conducting an interview with a researcher at USQ in regards to a phd she completed. The Phd is how the drought has affected the decision making of farmers. I researched her phd and gathered information regarding her phd to write up questions. I conducted the interview in the recording booth on the phone and later that day assisted Jodie in the studio room.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Amy in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Conducted an interview with USQ researcher.
- Assisted Jodie Gunders in studio room during air time.
- Edited and adjusted my interview.
Arlie Felton-Taylor
Thursday 6th September, 2019 8:00am-4:00pm
Today, I shadowed Arlie again in the newsroom to research and edit interviews. Today, where visiting a cotton company to interview the new CEO. The darling downs has been experiencing the worst drought on record and Arlie briefed me on the cotton producer and their company assets and growth over the years. After the interview, I was briefed on a situation regarding a garlic producer being sentenced in a Tasmania court for illegally importing garlic from Canada and America. The garlic producer was the Chair of Australian Garlic Association and has since stepped down after the allegations and sentencing. I am interviewing a garlic producer tomorrow and now I am writing up a few questions for him.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Arlie in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions.
- Observe Arlie interview Cotton company CEO.
- Assisted Jodie Gunders in studio room during air time.
- Edited and adjusted my interview.
Arlie Felton-Taylor
Friday 7th September, 2019 8:00am-4:00pm
Today, I am interviewing Mundubbera grower Russell Zahnow about the illegal importation of garlic which could of crippled the agricultural industry. Our interview went to air that day and I edited and wrote the script for Arlie to read. I also assisted Jodie in the studio room. As its my last day at The country Hour, I collaborated all my interviews and work I completed and placed them in my portfolio as you are looking at now. All my interviews and stories can be found on this website.
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Summary:
- Shadowed and assisted Arlie in the newsroom.
- Researched and collaborated questions for my interview.
- Conducted an interview with Garlic Producer.
- Edited and scripted my interview ready for broadcast, 1 hour later.
- Assisted Jodie in the studio.
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