Careers

Journalism Cadetships

The West Australian has a journalism cadetship program. Three to six entry-level journalists are usually accepted each year.

The only prerequisite for applicants is to have a completed university degree in any subject.

The cadetships are full-time and paid according to the metropolitan journalism award.

Training is at The West Australian. Cadetships are performance-based and monitored by The West Australian's Editorial Counsellor. At the successful completion of training, new journalists are promoted, or graded, and become part of the editorial staff.

New cadets are inducted to introduce them to the work of the newspaper and members of the editorial department.

Cadets undertake a program of meeting senior staff, are introduced to major community leaders and are taken on field trips during their training. Senior journalists on the paper give lectures on their experiences in journalism.

Detailed legal training by the company’s lawyer is also given. Shorthand and touch-typing are taught in-house and cadets are required to achieve 120 words a minute shorthand before being rostered to editorial departments on a rotation basis. These include general news, sport, features, sub-editing and business.

How to apply:

Applications open on JULY 1 and close on AUGUST 30 each year.

They must be clipped together in loose A4 format (not in individual plastic pockets), and must include:

1. Application form (click here for pdf).
2. A copy of your curriculum vitae.
3. A copy of your academic record.
4. Copies of a selection of any published work (A4 format).
5. A passport-sized photograph of yourself.
6. A 250-word autobiographical profile in any style

How cadets are selected:

Successful applicants will be invited to a preliminary interview and to sit a test.

A second round of interviews will be held in mid-November for those who impress at the first interview and exam.

Positions will be offered by mid-December. The cadetship program starts in early February.

Where to send your applications:

Gary Hartree
Editorial Counsellor
The West Australian
GPO Box N1025
Perth
WA 6843

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Gary Hartree on (08) 9482 3206 or gary.hartree@wanews.com.au

University Work Placement

The West Australian has a professional placement program for final year and post-graduate university students.

The program provides hands-on experience by allowing the student to spend 15 working days - usually one day a week for 15 weeks - as a working journalist.

Most professional placement students work in the general news department under the control of the Chief of Staff, although it is possible to include the business, sport or features department on request. The paper’s Editorial Counsellor checks student copy before publication and gives advice.

Placements are unpaid and students need appropriate insurance before they can be considered. Most universities provide this insurance for their students to participate in industrial experience.

The West Australian liaises directly with the administrators of some courses on placements. Students should contact the appropriate university administration office to apply. The universities will organise placements direct with the newspaper’s Editorial Counsellor.