Hello there! I’m David, an Australian multimedia journalist and educator who’s just returned from a stint in rural Kagoshima, Japan. I’ve recently returned to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where, after a year of online video and news, I’ve just started a new role leading the vertical video repurposing team. Before we get started, you may wish to also check me out on: LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook.
Quick links
2019-2021 New Format for Living
2011-2015 APN Australian Regional Media
Sabbatical / freelancing
I made the difficult decision to resign from my dream job making online news videos at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (and to sell our house and possessions) to embark on a two-year journey around the world with my family.
This is definitely not a holiday, it’s a new format for living. My wife and I are committed to spending quality time with our children and giving them the chance to get close to nature and connect with a diverse range of people around the world.
I’m continuing to work remotely lecturing for Jschool and I’ve jumped into the brave new world of freelance journalism. This is also a rare opportunity for me to have some time to experiment with multimedia storytelling.
I did an eight-part video/text series on our family adventure for ABC Life :
・Episode one — Taking off
Video journalist / digital producer
It had been my long-term goal to work for ABC News and after an internship, cold calls, multiple applications and interviews I finally made it in the door.
Working primarily as a video journalist/producer on the national online video desk, I tailored video content for specific platforms including the ABC News site, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.
My role also required me to provide training and troubleshooting for others around the organisation and liaise with journalists, managers and other teams to ensure contributed works met the national broadcaster’s strict standards.
Here’s a small selection of videos I created:
・The Australian school teaching in Japanese
・Beatboxer Tom Thum’s incredible voice
・Short form videos for the ABC News Facebook account
Lecturer
It was a huge honour to be offered a place on the teaching team at my alma mater and help raise the next generation of journalists.
My primary role at Jschool has been developing and delivering the multimedia journalism component of the course that covers everything from online news and Twitter to video, photography and voxpops.
I’ve also filled in as a lecturer/tutor/assessor in other subjects and worked as a video producer/tutor.
Video journalist / digital producer
Just six months into my time as a reporter on Tweed’s Daily News the paper stopped printing on weekdays and moved to a largely online operation.
The APN ARM editorial director offered me a place on the central online team, that initially involved managing regional mastheads’ news sites and social media accounts, but soon morphed into a newly created video role.
I was responsible for shaping and implementing the group’s digital video strategy that included everything from tracking analytics and creating best-practice content to creating video content for the group and providing video training for journalists predominantly familiar with print.
Examples of my work:
・Jennifer’s future sounds so good after cochlear implant (documentary and feature article)
・Reconnecting with survivors of Japan’s deadly tsunami (documentary and feature article)
Reporter
This was my first full-time job as a newspaper reporter and I was required to pitch and deliver multiple original stories on a daily basis.
Examples of my work:
・The challenges of living on the border
・Go behind the scenes of a recycling plant
Student / intern
Having already earned a business degree (QUT 2000) I was looking for a fast-tracked course that would prepare me for a career in journalism.
I was so impressed with Jschool‘s hands-on approach to journalism training that I chose their diploma over a spot offered in a similarly priced Masters course.
We were considered trainee journalists rather than students and were taught Teeline shorthand, actively encouraged to attend council meetings, courts of law and write for the online news site Newsbytes.
Jschool also helped me organise four internships at: Courier Mail features; ABC News; mX Melbourne; and, Quest Newspapers.
My peers selected me to represent them as 2010 valedictorian.
If you’re still reading and interested to know how I got into journalism, this video should answer many of your questions.