John Watson
New Zealand European ?
DOB: 05 July 1985
Achievements
• I have written freelance travel articles and kept a diary whilst travelling, some of which has been published.
• Produced and reported my own stories for television which screened on 3 News.
• An article I wrote had a front page spread in the New Zealand Herald (see Love Letters in a Time of War in Anzac Day’s issue 25/04/2008). I have also had the front page of AUT’s newspaper Te Waha Nui and the Wanganui Chronicle.
• Won the Best Television Journalism Story Award at the Danish School of Journalism for a piece I did on the ghetto in Aarhus, Denmark.
• While studying at the Danish school of Journalism I went to Brussels and wrote a feature article on EU politicians’ travel expenses and travelled to Amsterdam and wrote a feature article/created a two-minute television piece on the banning of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
• A story I wrote for the Wanganui Chronicle was picked up by Close Up and screened on national television.
• I was chosen from other AUT students to be a news reporter during a one-week voluntary sector conference held at the campus in November 08.
Education
2006 to 2008 Bachelor of Communications, journalism major
AUT University: Auckland, New Zealand.
2007 International journalism semester
Danish School of Journalism: Aarhus, Denmark.
2003 Certificate in Communications
AUT University: Auckland, New Zealand.
Work Experience
Freelance travel writing Freelance
February 2010 to November 2011
While on my OE around Thailand, Europe, North Africa and the States I kept a travel diary and wrote freelance travel articles, some of which were published.
3 News Wellington Full time position
Assignments Editor December 2009 to December 2010 December 2008 to December 2009
This high-pressured role involved making sure the newsroom ran smoothly and efficiently; organizing camera crews to liaise with reporters, keeping an eye out for potential news, liasing with parliament and conducting interviews for reporters among other duties. I spent some time in parliament and interviewed all ministers and the deputy prime minister. I also produced and reported my own stories.
Ponsonby News Freelance
Columnist/news reporter July, 2007 to March 2010
I wrote a column every month in which I interviewed someone interesting from, or to do with, the Ponsonby area.
bFM Voluntary
News gatherer/reader. May to December, 2008
Compiled news, recorded interviews and read the news at 12 noon on Mondays. I also hosted The Wire occasionally, a two-hour current affairs show in which I interviewed MPs and various intellectuals and experts.
Wanganui Chronicle Internship
News reporter August, 2008
Wrote seven articles during my four-day stay. Three made front page.
NZ Herald Internship
News reporter July, 2008
Wrote 16 stories during my two-week internship. Attended Tony Veitch’s first press conference and did some field reporting.
Activities and Interests
News I enjoy current affairs and in depth analysis of issues.
Education I love learning new things.
Travelling I try to see as much of the world as I can.