Careers

Journalism Cadetships

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

The general prerequisite for applicants is to have a 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 Staff Development Editor. At the successful completion of training, cadets are promoted, or graded, and become part of the editorial staff.

New cadets are given an induction program in their first week to introduce them to the work of the newspaper and senior members of the editorial department.

During training, cadets are taken on educational field trips, in which they meet community leaders and learn about the role and functions of important organisations.

Detailed legal training by the company’s lawyer is also given. Shorthand is taught in-house and cadets are required to achieve 120 words a minute 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 SEPTEMBER 20 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:

Applicants who qualify will be invited to sit a three-hour written test. The test will help to determine who proceeds to the next level - a preliminary interview which will determine finalists for the main selection interviews.

The selection interviews before a panel of senior editorial executives will be held in late November or early December.

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

Where to send your applications:

Jenni Garrigan
Staff Development Editor
The West Australian
GPO Box N1025
Perth
WA 6843

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Jenni Garriganon (08) 9482 3206

or jenni.garrigan@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 10 working days - usually one day a week for 10 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 Staff Development Editor 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 programs.

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 with the newspaper’s Staff Development Editor.