It’s National Hug a Newsperson Day – a day appreciating the very people reporting the news!
Today, we celebrate Yvette Gray and recognise the brilliant work she does.
Besides working as Conversation Co’s Communications Support, she also has almost 20 years experience in the media industry. She is an award-winning journalist, working as a reporter, presenter and producer for TV, radio, print and online.
Find out what she gets up to as a newsperson with this short Q&A:
Q: What are some really interesting (could be good, bad or just fun) news you’ve covered?
A: Over the years I have reported on all sorts of stories ranging from crime, to politics and sport.
Some of the more memorable events I have reported on include the Black Saturday bushfires, the deadly Christchurch earthquake, the Pike River coal mine tragedy in NZ, floods and some of Melbourne’s gangland wars. In stark contrast, one of my dream jobs has been reporting on the Australian Open tennis.
Q: What is the most stressful part of being a newsperson, and why?
A: Deadlines! Working in radio, you often have less than half an hour to put together stories. At times I have had to go to air during a news bulletin ad libbing a breaking story.
Q: What do you enjoy about being a newsperson, and why?
A: I love that every day is different and you get to meet people from all different walks of life and tell their stories.
Q: What is one misconception about newspeople that you’d like to debunk?
A: The media is often accused of being biased. As a reporter, you are taught to get all sides of the story to ensure it is balanced. There is no hidden agenda, it’s simply presenting the facts and letting the audience make up their own mind.
Check out some of the articles she has written:
- Victorian birth certificate rules changed to recognise de facto parent couples (Read More)
- State Library of Victoria owns one of the rare signed copies of Ulysses (Read More)
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Want to be a good communicator like Yvette, or gain a better understanding of how the media works? Learn how to use it to your advantage with our Engaging the Media course.
Developed by Yvette Gray and Conversation Co’s director, Cindy Plowman, the course caters to all levels – so whether you are new to public speaking or are already a seasoned media performer, there will be plenty of useful tips to make sure you are getting your message across clearly and effectively.
Find out more on Engaging the Media course.
