CRA announces Brian White Scholarship winner

Newcastle University student Rachel Storer has won the inaugural Brian White Scholarship awarded by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).

Storer is currently in her final year of study at the University of Newcastle and part of the student news team at the university radio station.

“I’m very excited to be the recipient of the Brian White Scholarship,” she said. “I’m looking forward to making the most of this opportunity and gaining firsthand experience within the radio news industry.”

Storer was one of eight student finalists who attended a news workshop at the Nova studios in Sydney last week. Commercial radio news directors Deborah Clay (ARN), Michelle Stephenson (Nova), Erin Maher (MMR) and Natasha Jobson (SCA) spoke to the group and set several journalist tasks for judging.

All the radio news directors were impressed by the enthusiasm and expertise of the finalists.

Southern Cross Austereo news director Natasha Jobson said: “If the finalists for the Brian White Scholarship are any example of the next generation of radio journos, we’re in great shape! While all were impressive, Rachel shone with her ability to identify the nuances between AM and FM style news, and her understanding of the importance of news to both regional and metro audiences.”

Storer will now commence an eight-week paid work attachment in Sydney, consisting of two weeks each at Macquarie Media, Southern Cross Austereo, Australian Radio Network and Nova Entertainment.

Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, said: “The applicants for the inaugural Brian White Scholarship were outstanding. We hope we can help and support even more aspiring young radio journalists next year.”

Applications for the 2018 Brian White Scholarship will open in March 2018.