A new, exciting career path for youngster

Indian Newslink Journalism Scholarship excites first recipient

When Imogen Crispe was told that she was selected for the Indian Newslink Journalism Scholarship to pursue a Post Graduate Diploma at the AUT University, she thought she was dreaming.

But as the 22-year-old employee at a headhunting firm in Downtown Auckland received an official confirmation, she was thrilled beyond words.

“I still cannot quite believe that I had won the Scholarship.  When I applied for the Journalism course, I was not even sure if I would be accepted into the course, let alone win a scholarship! I am looking forward to pursuing a career in Journalism,” she said.

The University has a robust selection process with stringent criteria and with the total number restricted to 30 students per year, Imogen has every reason to be proud. 

“Winning this Scholarship has set me on a new and exciting path, where I hope to learn a lot and find a job that is enjoyable,” she said.

Imogen is the first recipient of the Indian Newslink Journalism Scholarship established this year to boost the standard and practice of the profession in New Zealand.

The Scholarship is open to all New Zealanders, irrespective of their ethnic grouping, provided they are either citizens or permanent residents.

The newspaper will pay the Tuition Fee, Student Services Fee and Student Association Fee for one student admitted every year into one of AUT’s one-year postgraduate programmes, including the postgraduate diploma in Communication Studies (Journalism) and the Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours).

The decision of the University is final.

An impressive career

Imogen, which means ‘innocent and blameless’ in the Celtic language, was born in the UK but moved 12 years ago with her younger sister Diana and parents (Simon and Marianne, both New Zealanders) to Dubai, where her father is employed. She arrived in New Zealand to pursue her studies as a resident scholar at the Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom, Auckland.

Following the completion of her Honours degree in Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and French at the University of Auckland, she went to Paris to be an au pair (nanny), living with a French family and looking after three children.

Imogen said it was an educational and thrilling experience.

“I improved my French, made new friends and explored new places.  When I got back to Auckland, I spent a few months looking for a job and for the past two months I have been working at an executive search firm as their Office and Research Assistant,” she said.

Imogen said she was grateful to Indian Newslink for establishing the scholarship. 

“Since obtaining the Scholarship, I have discovered that this is a wide-reaching and well-known newspaper. It is inspiring to be affiliated with such a highly regarded and well read newspaper,” she said.

Imogen will have the option to work for Indian Newslink if she so desires on completion of the course.

The selection panel said Imogen has had diverse life experience since she graduated, including working as an Oxfam volunteer and as an event organiser in a breast cancer fundraising campaign.

Logical Partnership

AUT vice-chancellor Derek McCormack said he was thrilled that his University had entered into this partnership with Indian Newslink.

“AUT University is delighted that Imogen has been awarded the inaugural Indian Newslink Journalism Scholarship. We are grateful for this newspaper’s support of the University’s post graduate communications programmes. The scholarship is aimed at fostering professional standards in journalism, so it is a logical partnership,” he said.

Indian Newslink Managing Director & Publisher Ravin Lal said the Scholarship scheme was a natural extension of the Newspaper’s penchant for quality journalism and education.

“I hope that an increasing number of youngsters will be motivated to become good journalists that the country needs, especially since the Scholarship is open to all New Zealanders,” he said.

Scholarship 2011

Applicants for the Indian Newslink Journalism Scholarship 2011 should complete the prescribed form and send it to the School of Communication Studies at the AUT University in Auckland, along with the requisite and relevant documents including an academic transcript, professional CV, evidence of news media experience and/or interest (published stories and references can be attached) and evidence of commitment to journalism excellence.

The last date for receipt of the completed form is September 30, 2010 and the selected candidate is likely to be announced by December 2010.

The Criteria

The scholarship is open to full-time students of the School of Communication Studies who are accepted into one-year postgraduate programmes, such as Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies (Journalism) and Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours). But this scholarship may not be held in conjunction with any other grants, awards or scholarships.

The recipient of the Scholarship will be determined by the School of Communication Studies Equity and Diversity Committee with Journalism staff and Indian Newslink.

This scholarship should not be held in conjunction with any other fees scholarships.