BY JAMES WONG
KUCHING: One day, my lecturer informed us about an exciting opportunity to undertake a three-month industrial training or internship at the New Sarawak Tribune.
The news came at the perfect time. I was a final year student majoring in Strategic Communication at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and we were in the midst of preparing for our internship.
On the same day that the slots became available, I eagerly signed up for the position of an intern reporter and emailed my resume to our faculty.
It wasn’t my first time hearing about the New Sarawak Tribune. With my limited knowledge of the media industry, I knew it as the longest-running tabloid newspaper in Sarawak.
The life of a journalist has always appealed to me. You get to attend functions at different locations every day and meet new people.
Best of all, you are not confined to an office for eight hours a day, which is perfect for someone like me who has trouble sitting still.
However, after submitting my name for consideration, doubts lingered in my mind.
How could I ensure that the theoretical knowledge I learned in school would be applicable in the real world? Was I cut out to work as a reporter? Was I truly prepared for what lay ahead?
Fortunately, my application was successful, and the time came for our first day of internship.
We had a brief training session with the managing editor and deputy chief reporters to familiarise ourselves with the company’s in-house writing style and organisational structure.
“To improve and excel, you must first become a copycat,” said managing editor, Aden Nagrace.
Of course, he did not mean it literally; he was emphasising the importance of observing how seasoned reporters write their news articles.
For the following two weeks, we shadowed and observed our senior colleagues in the field, gradually developing a sense of the methods and procedures involved in crafting news for general events.
We conducted background research, spoke to event organisers, gathered necessary details, took a lot of photos, built connections with other reporters, and, most importantly, we read a lot.
During this time, we also learned how to obtain on-the-spot comments (“jolok”) and process them into news.
In the third week of our internship, I was assigned to cover an event attended by Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, the chief political secretary to the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Tupong assemblyman. I was sent to the field alone.
It was a special moment, knowing that the managing editor, chief reporters, and deputy chief reporters trusted us enough to cover functions without supervision.
From that day onward, I felt like a budding reporter. While covering functions independently, I also had the opportunity to engage in other aspects of journalistic writing, such as crafting feature articles, book reviews, and profile write-ups.
One aspect that stood out during this internship was the creative freedom given to us, allowing us to channel our creativity into producing feature articles on topics that were close to our hearts.
In addition to learning how to write, another remarkable aspect was the chance to interact with influential figures within the community.
We had the opportunity to interview and write about Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman Tan Kai, and Krian assemblyman Friday Belik.
Whether it was engaging with ministers, local community leaders, or other significant individuals, the opportunity to interview and converse with these personalities was something truly unique.
These interactions not only provided us with valuable insights and perspectives but also allowed us to build our professional network, which is crucial for career development.
Another highlight of this journey was attending and covering the 19th State Legislative Assembly meeting recently.
Having watched its livestreams in previous years, it felt surreal to be in the media room, at the forefront of information crafting news to be published.
However, amidst these memorable moments, I must acknowledge that this journey was not without its challenges.
One of the challenging aspects of being a reporter is the mental strength required to consistently perform at your best, regardless of the time of day.
Working in this field demands high adaptability and flexibility in terms of your working schedule and environment.
Sometimes, you won’t have the luxury of returning to the office and sitting at your desk to complete your work. You must train yourself to be able to work in different environments and at any time of the day.
The tight deadlines were also a primary challenge I faced as an intern reporter. Balancing the need for timeliness while maintaining the highest standards required effective time management and an efficient workflow.
Despite the challenges, the whole experience has been enriching and fulfilling, allowing us to explore the diverse facets of this dynamic field.
Each day brings its own set of tasks, deadlines, and unexpected developments. You never know what stories will unfold or what obstacles you might encounter.
Through overcoming these obstacles, the lessons learned, and the personal growth achieved, I have become more resilient, adaptable, and confident in my abilities as a reporter.
In conclusion, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak for their guidance, mentorship, and support throughout our internship.
