NEWS
Memorial prize gives journalism students hands-on experience
Radio station RSN 927 is partnering with RMIT to provide an annual paid internship for a third year journalism student.
Long time Melbourne sports broadcaster Steve Cairns is being remembered by the racing channel with an annual internship for an RMIT student.
Cairns had a history of supporting young journalists and was an important role model for some of Victoria’s most prominent sporting commentators.
He died suddenly in 2015 after being the program manager at RSN for close to two decades.
The station recently approached the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) program to establish an annual fund in Cairns' name.
Journalism program manager Dr Philip Dearman said the paid internship showed RSN's commitment to young people.
“There are few places in journalism that offer paid work to students and this is a clear example of how Cairns’ support of young people continues at the station,” Dearman said.
The Steve Cairns prize has a cash component of $1000, plus 4 weeks' paid internship ($250 per week) at RSN where the winning student will gain hands-on experience working in the media.
The prize will be awarded to a third year student in the journalism program with a passion for sport.
The prizewinner will spend one week involved in the production of the RSN breakfast program, a week in the production of RSN news, a week in RSN’s programming and social media areas, with the final week to be determined by the student's interests.
RSN 927AM is an established and respected media outlet broadcasting across Victoria, providing Australia’s premier racing and sports coverage.
Some of the greatest personalities in the history of Australian radio including Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton, Tony Barber and John Blackman have broadcast on Radio Sport 927.
Story: Wendy Little