Career

Name: Tory Regan
Age: 18



What do you do?
I work at a daily newspaper in a rural area covering five small towns.  I write a page a day for each town.  That's roughly 2000 - 3000 words a day on local identities, upcoming events, issues facing the town and anything interesting that's happening in my neck of the woods.

Is it hard work?
Hell, yes.  I'm up at six every day and I don't finish until late.  And even then you're never 'off the clock', because you never know when you might see or hear something that would make a great story.  I have to work a Saturday every six weeks, too.



How long have you been a writer?
Always, whether it was poetry, short stories or of course, journalism.  But I’ve been a professional journalist since April this year.  I got this job, as a cub, a month after graduating from J-school. I'm lucky too, because it's pretty tight out there for journalists at the moment.



What qualifications did you need to get into your position?
The minimum is a Diploma in Journalism, but I also have a certificate in Journalism I completed before the diploma.   The diploma is a multi-media one, which means we were trained in web-editing, video, photography and sound recording [for radio journalism].  We’re the complete package when we leave.

Had you done any writing for papers or magazines before that?
Not really, but I ran my own blog which was pretty successful.  Blogs are an important tool for journalists to get their names out in the world now.  A lot of employers won’t look at you if you don’t have a blog going, they’ll think you’re not serious about writing, or that you don’t have an angle.  You gotta have an angle.  That’s the first rule of journalism.

How did you find out about Journalism School and its opportunities?
I needed to get out of high school, it was driving me insane.  So I thought about my hobbies and the careers I could choose from.  I looked up Whitireia and there was Journalism. I told mum that night that I was finishing year 6, then leaving school.

On a scale from one to ten how hard was Journalism School?
TEN.  It’s a non-stop day with constant pressure, but that’s what keeps it vital.  The worst, the absolute worst part is learning short hand.  It’s like learning a whole new language where everything you thought you understood about communicating goes out the window.  Also you have to be fast and neat. I’m fast, but neat and I have never seen eye to eye.

What was the toughest aspect?
Finding stories and having the confidence to talk to random people on the street. Also learning shorthand was intense.



And what about actual Journalism?
Writing is easy for me, always has been.  Also, the story is there in the quotes, you just have to present it in a way that anyone can easily digest.



What made you choose Journalism?
I love asking questions, I'm nosy as hell and people have always fascinated me. Now days, even when I'm not being a Journalist, I am because I still ask heaps of questions to everyone I know, and love finding out information no one else knows.



What hours do you work?
8-5 but Journalism doesn't really have set hours. If you're walking down the street and find a story, whether it's your weekend or not, you HAVE to report it. Both a blessing and a curse.

Do you get to snoop in places that Jo Public isn't allowed?
Not yet but I haven't been in the job long. I'm pretty sure snooping is a big part of the job though. I got to ride on a fire engine the other day, and I’ve been to press conferences held by the police. I also had to interview an olive grower and taste olive oil.  It’s a mixed bag.



What are the perks of the job?
Talking to famous people and having an excuse to talk to them or anyone. I interviewed Grant Robertson [MP for Wellington Central who was recently promoted to the Opposition Front Bench] once - he’s possibly the most famous person I’ve spoken to yet. 



Are there any downsides to your job?
It's hard yakka. The hours are long, the driving is long. Words and inspiration don't come easy in the afternoon. Sometimes I'd like to be in the office less, but then the driving is tiring too.



Where do you see yourself in five years?
I'm not sure but why not shoot high? Australia working a desk at a Metro.



What was your biggest scoop?
I once walked along Lambton quay and realised there were a lot of shops that had closed down and were empty, I investigated and found out it was due to the recession. It was probably the best story I've done so far in my very short career. In this business, though, it pays to remember you are only as good as your last story.



What advice would you give to anyone thinking of journalism?
Whitireia is the place to learn. The tutors are hardened Journo's so they're tough to please but Whitireia is a well renowned school with tutors who are "famous" in the Journalism world. It will prepare you well for what the real world has to throw at you.
Also, don't be afraid to cause controversy, if someone's not writing letters to the editor about your stories, you're not doing your job.