Newsroom staff
24 December 2014: º£½ÇÉäÇø journalism student Alkira Reinfrank has been awarded the prestigious 2015 Peter Leonard Scholarship at a recent ceremony held at the National Press Club.
The scholarship is presented annually to an emerging journalism student at the University as a dedication to the legacy of the late Peter Leonard.
Now in its fifth year, the award is presented in partnership with the WIN television network and the ACT Government in memory of the 42 years Mr Leonard spent in the media and 16 years he spent as WIN's local news presenter.
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Peter Leonard Scholarship finalists Jordan Hayne (left) and Lauren Hollands (right) with winner Alike Reinfrank (centre) at the National Press Club. Photo supplied. |
Ms Reinfrank, who has just completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Media Arts and Production at the º£½ÇÉäÇø, said she was honoured to receive the scholarship.
"I grew up watching Peter Leonard present the local news here in Canberra, so to be the recipient of an award named after him is extremely humbling," she said.
"It is a recognition of all the hard work I have put into my studies over the last four years."
Miss Reinfrank was awarded a cash prize of $5,000 and a four-week internship in the WIN TV newsroom. She believes, this opportunity provided by the º£½ÇÉäÇø will help her achieve her goals as a journalist in the media industry.
"The journalism industry only seems to be getting harder to break into as a graduate. I believe it is imperative that the community, local government and universities get behind aspiring journalists to ensure we can get a foot in the door through programs like the Peter Leonard Scholarship," she said.
º£½ÇÉäÇø professor of journalism Matthew Ricketson, who sat on the judging panel, said Miss Reinfrank "distinguished herself by her strong performance in the newsroom".
"She had a good sense of what makes a story for local television and an ability to reflect on her work and come up with strategies for improving it," he said.
The two finalists Jordan Hayne and Lauren Hollands each received a cash prize of $500 as part of the scholarship.
"If the experience of previous years is anything to go by, winning the Peter Leonard scholarship, or even being named a finalist, is a valuable stepping stone to a career in the news media," Professor Ricketson said.