Two trainee visual journalists have been appointed to join the photography teams at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, as part of a traineeship program backed by Canon Australia.
Audrey Richardson will join The Sydney Morning Herald, while Ruby Alexander will head to The Age following a recruitment process led by photographic and senior editors, according to an announcement on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
What is the traineeship program?
The traineeships sit within a three-year partnership with Canon Australia, which funds development for the trainees and provides industry gear for the trainees and Nine Publishing staff photographers.
Both trainees will work alongside photojournalists, video producers and editors, building visual reporting skills across different parts of the newsrooms.
Who are the trainees?
Richardson studied journalism and photography at Michigan State University, and has completed internships with the Chicago Tribune, the Detroit Free Press and the Seattle Times. She also has an interest in underwater and drone photography.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be joining The Sydney Morning Herald, and I can’t wait to work alongside and learn from some of the country’s best photographers and journalists.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Canon for this partnership and the opportunity to continue growing as a photojournalist.”
Alexander described herself as an aspiring foreign correspondent, with a portfolio spanning Australia and Asia across documentaries, photo essays and multimedia stories.
“I’m excited to be joining The Age as a visual journalist trainee. It’s a real privilege to learn and develop my skills alongside such an experienced and talented team. I’m eager to learn from everyone and to continue growing as both a photographer and journalist. Thank you to The Age and Canon for this incredible opportunity.”
Why it matters for the mastheads
Luke McIlveen, Executive Editor, said the appointments continued a long tradition of visual journalism at the two titles.
“With a rich history of documenting history through images, the Herald and The Age newsrooms welcome Audrey and Ruby. Working alongside our award-winning journalists, our trainees will not only develop their skills but our newsrooms too will benefit from the real-world experience they bring to us. We can’t wait to see how Audrey and Ruby contribute to the country’s two most-read mastheads.”
Aaron Berthelot, Senior General Manager – Consumer Sales & Marketing, Canon Oceania, said Canon’s support was focused on developing emerging visual storytellers within major newsrooms.
“Congratulations to Audrey Richardson and Ruby Alexander on their selection as visual journalist trainees. Canon is proud to support the next generation of visual storytellers through this partnership, and we’re excited to see their perspectives continue to develop within two of Australia’s most respected newsrooms.”