How do fresh perspectives and ideas find their voice? Believe it or not, it might be in a raucous grandstand on the Australia's beautiful Gold Coast. I had the privilege of working closely with an incredibly talented group of emerging journalists from across Southeast Asia through ABC International's Future Voices program.
Future Voices, supported by the ASEAN-Australia Centre, brings together emerging media leaders from Southeast Asia and Australia. After an online phase, participants are immersed in hands-on journalism training in Australia, this time over two weeks in South-East Queensland during the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
During that time, we moved from a commentary workshop with Peter Longman into the commentary box itself, where participants called matches live. Watching them step into that environment, you could see that under pressure and in real time, they grew very quickly.
Participants also received hands on mobile journalism training, developing the skills to film, interview and report in fast paced environments. From gathering vox pops to producing match day content on the ground, they were constantly applying what they were learning in real time. Alongside this, they took part in a Leadership and Sports Diplomacy course at Griffith University, earning a micro credential while deepening their understanding of the role sport and media play in shaping narratives across the region.
What made this program different, though, was the people. This cohort is an incredibly skilled group of journalists, thoughtful, adaptable and deeply committed to their craft. In just under two weeks, they built trust, supported each other and created a space where everyone felt seen and valued.
If the growth I saw in those 12 days is anything to go by, the future of journalism in the region is in very good hands.
Originally published on the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.
