Society relies on quality journalism to question, investigate and inform. In the age of a fast-moving digital media and fake news, the role of journalism is more critical than ever. The media industry demands well-trained, digitally-savvy journalists who can adapt their skills in a dynamic landscape. Macleay College’s courses embed digital reporting skills into the key disciplines of news reporting, investigative journalism, international journalism, television reporting, radio journalism and photojournalism. You become working journalists from the first day you step into Macleay. You work on real stories in a real newsroom across all media platforms. As a journalism student, you're taught by industry experts who are up to date with the latest trends and well connected to the profession.
Curious to know more about how we teach journalism at Macleay? Check out Hatch, our award-winning, student-run digital publication.
Get a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the media industry, including covering breaking news and long-form journalism, while applying the hands-on skills of MOJO (mobile journalism), social media journalism, video, audio and visual storytelling. Cover a range of topics from people and politics to fashion and celebrities, global news, sports, health and lifestyle.
Students work independently and collaboratively in a creative and supportive learning environment, pitching and producing stories that matter to them. From researching and interviewing to writing, filming, and editing, Macleay’s bachelor students apply a range of multimedia skills to produce stories based on their career interests, including sports journalism, photojournalism, podcasting, music journalism, investigative reporting, business journalism and food, lifestyle, and travel.
I’m the Head of Journalism at Macleay and a member of the Academic Board. I’ve been a journalist for over 25 years, working across newspapers, magazines and digital publications at places like the Daily Telegraph, Manly Daily, Ten Daily, Government News and New Idea. For the past 10 years I’ve also been running my own company, freelancing for a range of publications and corporate clients.
I started my career in newspapers before moving to New York City to freelance. Upon returning to Australia I worked in magazines including ELLE, Mode, Who Weekly, Cosmopolitan and Madison. I also edited Cleo and Australian Style magazines before returning to newspapers in 1999 where I created the Body + Style magazine and TV show as well as all News Ltd's Olympic publications.
I’m a film Director, Producer, Editor and Director of Photography. I also run my own agency called Joker Theory Films and have won a few awards including an ASTRA and an ARIA for my music video by Pnau. When not working at my agency and teaching at Macleay, I run workshops in digital and mobile journalism for news organisations like AA and Fairfax.
After years at the Age, I now lecture in journalism, multimedia, podcasting, video journalism and mobile journalism at Macleay. During my time at Fairfax, I worked as a video journalist but have recently turned my hand to podcast production. I co-produced The Age’s multi-award winning podcast ‘Phoebe’s Fall’ and was part of the team who produced ‘Wrong Skin’, recently named Podcast of the Year at the Australian Podcast Awards.
I’m a national news presenter and National Newsroom Director for NOVA Entertainment, where I present news for Nova’s Number 1 Drive Time show, “Kate, Tim and Marty” and also direct NOVA Entertainment’s news teams nationally. With a Degree in Politics and a Masters in Journalism, my career has seen me work for Sky News, Prime TV as well as anchoring a news show in Canada.
In my 25+ years with The Sun and The Herald Sun, I worked on almost every big story, major sporting and news events of the era, from the Hoddle and Queen St massacres of the late 1980s through the gangland wars to the Black Saturday fires. I’ve also covered 20 Melbourne Cups, State and Federal elections, and served as News Ltd.’s national Defence Correspondent and chief of staff.
I work at The Australian Financial Review and have also worked at the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mirror, The Express, The Times, Metro, The Australian and The South China Morning Post. I count reporting from New York on the 911 attacks, from London on the death of Princess Diana and helping break the Canoe Man hoax in the UK among my journalistic high points.
I’m a Central Victorian tree-change photographer, after working for 30 years as a Newspaper Photographer. Recently, I was working as a Chief Photographer at Bendigo Advertiser, mentoring graduate photographers and journalists with daily newspaper operations. Prior to that, I was Chief Photographer for FCN in The Age building. In addition to teaching at Macleay I work as a freelance photographer.
I'm a former reporter and foreign correspondent for Reuters, Daily Telegraph (UK) and The Independent. I now mostly write long-form features and essays for Australian magazines including Griffith Review and The Weekend Australian Magazine. I won a Walkley Award for Coverage of Indigenous Affairs. My non-fiction book Pitcairn: Paradise Lost won the Ned Kelly Award for best true crime writing.
When not lecturing at Macleay, I’m a 3AW radio senior journalist, newsreader, editor, arts, entertainment, lifestyle and travel reporter. Career highlights include winning the National Radio Award (Brian White Memorial AWARD – now ACRAS) for my live report on the World Economic Forum protests and a sit down, face to face interview with Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood.
As a specialist writer of food and travel articles and books for companies like Fairfax and Lonely Planet, I’ve travelled the globe for over a decade in search of stories and also spent eight years at Bauer Media writing, editing and managing multiple titles. I’m also passionately interested in the field of professional ethics, having volunteered as an ethics teacher in NSW primary schools.
I’m the author of High Sobriety: My Year Without Booze, a memoir and exploration of Australia’s binge drinking culture, which was a best seller and finalist in the Walkley Book of the Year. I’ve also worked for The Age as a health reporter and a senior writer and have been a social commentator on Conversation Hour and a guest on The Project and Sunrise.
I work at the ABC as a Technical Editor. My job closely connects to what I teach as I explore the relationship between the journalist and developer in the workplace. The skills taught enable journalists to understand the role of a developer and how they are becoming more prominent in newsrooms.
Finishing high school and looking to build a career? At university but want to learn from industry teachers in a more intimate and supportive environment? Already working and just want to try something new?
We understand that different people are looking for different outcomes when they choose to study at Macleay. That’s why we offer both diploma and bachelor programs.
What’s the difference?
Diploma
Diploma courses can be completed within 12 months with no ATAR required. Graduating with a diploma opens the door to many employment opportunities, and provides a pathway to articulate into the bachelor program.
Bachelor
Bachelor degrees can be completed within 2 years, which means you’ll graduate faster than you would at traditional universities. If you completed Year 12 in the past 2 years, we’ll review your ATAR as one part of your application, but it isn't everything. These fast-tracked 2-year degrees get you into the workplace sooner.
Two-thirds of Macleay Journalism graduates gain industry employment within four months of completing their chosen course program. The result is nearly three times higher than the national average reported by Mumbrella.
Macleay’s integrated internship program is key to much of our alumni success, with industry-connected lecturers helping link students to relevant opportunities. Macleay’s national award-winning, student-run digital publication Hatch also enables students to develop industry-ready skills from day one.
You may change your study load from full-time to part-time and vice versa during your studies. However, to avoid academic and/or financial penalty, you should make any changes to your enrolment prior to Census Date for that trimester.
As a domestic student you can defer the start of your course for up to a maximum of 12 months. If you want to defer for a longer duration, you’ll be required to withdraw from the course and re-apply when you’re ready to recommence your study at Macleay College.
If you have studied at a university or other tertiary institution, you may be eligible for course credit for the subjects you have completed. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (or RPL) and may result in course credit via the grade ‘Advanced Standing.’ Advanced Standing recognises your previous study and may reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course at Macleay College.
Diploma students are required to complete a minimum of at least 40 internship hours. If you’re studying one of our Degrees, you are required to complete 120 internship hours. Although most internships are unpaid, you are encouraged to maximise your intern hours in order to increase job-readiness after you graduate. Find out more about our Internship Program.
We constantly receive offers from employers in the journalism industry requesting interns. Our lecturers are industry practitioners and may also help you to find work placement in an area of your interest. However, it is recommended that you select the internship of most interest to you and make an application.
Domestic students can pay course tuition fees either with an upfront invoice, via the FEE-HELP loan system, or a combination of both. International students must pay upfront.
Macleay College is here to help students explore their interests. Get in touch to learn more about your study options.
