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News Anchor - CAMEO Leonardo Puglise, News Anchor for News 6 This article is taken directly from ABC News - 8 February 2025 6 News anchor Leo Puglisi is not your average 17-year-old ![]() (Source: ABC News February 2025) During the long summer holidays between primary school and high school, that imperceptible threshold where childhood is left behind, Leo Puglisi rebranded his news channel. Leo had started reporting on local news and posting his video reports to YouTube in 2019, when he was 11. On the first day of 2020, Leo's channel HMV — which stood for Hawthorn, Melbourne Victoria, "like the old TV call signs" he says — became 6 News. That summer, Leo took his 6 News branded microphone, and a shirt and tie, with him on holiday. It turned out to be "a poorly planned family road trip… through multiple bushfire zones," he says. But it was great for gathering news. He filmed plumes of smoke from the window of the family car, interviewed fire weary locals, and recruited his younger brother do a live cross from outside parliament house. By the time the first COVID lockdown occurred in March 2020, Leo was producing two bulletins about local and international news per week on YouTube. Now aged 17, and beginning year 12, Leo's 6 News has a team of 10 teenage reporters. He has amassed more than 30,000 followers on YouTube and nearly 60,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). With his customary suit and neatly combed hair, Leo has become an accepted part of Australia's media landscape. He's reportedly been offered a column with NewsCorp (something he neither denies or confirms), he's been included among surveys of journalists on media trends, and he's interviewed a prime minister. He was also a 2025 Young Victorian of the Year nominee. With Australians under the age of 16 set to be locked out of social media platforms later this year, Leo has become an unofficial defender of young people's agency and creativity online. "I think it's really important for young people to be able to explore their passions," he says. Without access to social media platforms, none of Leo's achievements may have happened. But running a news channel from his bedroom isn't easy. Leo doesn't sleep much, he's been the subject of conspiracy theories, and balancing his hunger for news with high school can be a challenge. 'Who the hell is this Leonardo Puglisi' ![]() For as long as Leo can remember, news has been his passion. Leo first rose to national attention when he was 12. Melbourne's The Age newspaper wrote about the "boy journalist" who scooped a radio station to a story about the demolition of a beloved school belltower. Not long after, Leo broke what he says is still the exclusive news story he's most proud of. "We reported that stage four [COVID] lockdown was set to be declared in Melbourne, copped plenty of comments doubting us, and then were proven correct in about 48 hours," he says. Bemused 3AW radio presenters discussed his scoop on air a few days later. "[The lockdown news] was broken on that website 6 News and I assured people it would be absolute bulltish" an incredulous 3AW radio host said. "Blow me down it turns out to have been right." "His aim in life, and this is on his Twitter site, is to be the new Karl Stefanovic, it's good to aim high isn't it. Anyway, Leo has in recent weeks had some amazing scoops… and I thought he couldn't get this one right it's too big. But it turned out to be absolutely on the money, I'm sure there are a lot of very well-staffed, very well-equipped newsrooms thinking who the hell is this Leonardo Puglisi." When 14-year-old Leo interviewed Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the lead-up to the 2022 election, he again made national headlines. Leo credits another 6 News reporter, then 13-year-old Roman Mackinnon, for securing the interview. "I'm still amazed we got that," he says of an interview he describes as "a bit fiery". Leo put tough and thoughtful questions to the prime minister and held his ground on the occasions Morrison attempted to dismiss them. "I don't think he was necessarily expecting all the questions and all the push back," Leo says. "But I respect him for not holding back." Leo has always been clear that 6 News is not news for kids by kids. "The fact we are a digital only news channel, [the audience] does lean younger… I'd say under 35 maybe under 40," he says. But he believes they attract people of all ages looking for an alternative source of news. Research conducted in 2023 by the Australian Communications and Media Authority found 46 per cent of young people aged 18-to-24 years nominate social media as their main source for news. They're also significantly more likely than older groups to turn to celebrities and social media influencers for their news content the study found. Young audiences also differ in what they expect from the news, a report commissioned by the Reuters Institute found. "Traditional news brands see news as: what you should know. Young audiences see news as: what you should know (to an extent), but also what is useful to know, what is interesting to know, and what is fun to know," the report states. 6 News may be an alternative media brand, harnessing the power of social media in the internet age, but Leo's style echoes the glory days of television news. Asked if he's an anomaly of his generation, he says that's probably true. But he says as long as young people are getting news from reputable sources, no matter the style, he's happy. A 'digitally illiterate' family Benedict Puglisi is still following the breadcrumbs, trying to understand where his son's passion for news has come from. As a young child, Leo's favourite songs were the fanfares used to introduce news bulletins, he says. There are home videos of Leo sitting in his highchair intently watching the television news. But the Puglisi household was never a particularly political or news obsessed one, he says. ![]() A luthier, one of the few in Australia who specialises in double basses and cellos, Benedict is a master craftsman who spends his days in a workshop surrounded by timber and instruments. Almost everything he knows about journalism he has learnt from his son. But he does spot a trace of music in Leo's speaking style. Leo, he says, learnt cello for eight years and showed talent. "He played the pieces very freely, without much time signatures, so he interpreted music really quickly," he says. "When he speaks, I notice that he knows all the pauses and the spaces… maybe some of [the music training] was channelled in the way he speaks so beautifully." When Leo said he wanted to make a YouTube channel, Benedict admits he didn't know what that was. Despite being "digitally illiterate" as Leo describes him, Benedict often helped by driving Leo places to report, filming his crosses on an iPhone, and occasionally appearing on camera as a reporter. Benedict says 6 News has grown organically. "It's not been planned, we've just let him go and encouraged him where we could and told him to turn it off and come to the dinner table like any other little kid," he says. However, Benedict does worry about Leo's safety online. Seeing the disparaging things people sometimes say about Leo has been particularly hard for Leo's mother. "She gets very upset by it," he says. Leo brushes it off and has proven to be a very level-headed, resilient person, Benedict says. "I totally understand that we need to keep kids away from the digital world as much as possible… but I can also see what amazing things my two boys have done with it." ![]() 6 News has become a hub for teenagers passionate about journalism. For Benedict, the drive of these young reporters is inspirational. "His journalist friends around Australia, and some overseas… talk late into the night about different events and who's going to cover what and which stories go where … and what angles they're going to take and who they can interview and it's wonderful to watch." Both father and son laugh off the conspiracy theories which have swirled around Leo online. "A lot of people have made comments and assumed that Leonardo was a puppet of myself, from the Liberal Party, the Communist Party, or the far-right or the far-left and they've made all these assumptions, but none of that's true at all. Leonardo's completely independent of his parents, as much as he is of any particular party, he's a very driven independent guy." Behind the scenes, his son is a hard worker, Benedict says. "He works at it, and I don't know if people really understand that as much." Not a gimmick Being a team of teenage journalists who run their own streamed news service on a shoe-string budget from their homes has undoubtedly been a point of difference. But Leo says people have moved past what was "initially kind of gimmicky". "We're almost at six years now, so we've been able to establish credibility," he says. The reporters work voluntarily, Leo says, but he's hoping to find sponsors this year. At this stage, 95 per cent of any funding 6 News receives comes through monetisation platform Patreon, he says. Some of the young reporters who have worked for 6 News are now professional journalists. While Leo says he'll continue to support other young journalists, maybe none will be as young as he was when he started. "We've never hired an 11-year-old. The only 11-year-old has been me," he says. These days the youngest reporter is 15-year-old Maggie Perry. Writing in The Saturday Paper last year, Maggie praised the camaraderie of the team. "It's been very hard to be a transgender 15-year-old in central Queensland. Luckily for me, my friends and fellow journalists at 6 News have been there every step of the way," she wrote. Maggie was arguing against the federal government's child social media ban, saying it would cut off vulnerable and isolated children from vital online support communities. She made the point that under such a ban, which is expected to begin later this year, Leo would never have been able to create what he has. Leo has also questioned how effective the social media ban could be. "I've said the entire time with the social media ban, no one doubts there can be dangers on social media," he says. "That doesn't mean it can't be safely managed." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in 2024 that the social media ban was needed to protect young people from harm. ![]() While Leo says he takes some precautions to protect his privacy, he seems comfortable juggling the life of a high school student and a self-made teenage news anchor. He has multiple screens set up in his bedroom where he can monitor the news. According to his father, multitasking has never been an issue for Leo. "Maybe I've missed [a class] because of an interview or something like that, but generally I think I've been able to do both to the best of my ability," he says. After completing five year 12 subjects last year, he only has two to complete this year. He has Wednesdays free, he says. "Ideally any big stories, if they can fall on a Wednesday, that would be really helpful." This year, 6 News hopes to interview political leaders ahead of the federal election, along with looking to cover stories that receive less attention from traditional media, such as local council elections and state league sport, Leo says. When asked about what he wants to do after year 12, he's ambitious but cagey. If he were offered a job with a major news network, would he take it? "Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, I don't know. I will just say I'm firmly committed to continuing 6 News." ![]() (Source: The Guardian) Want to read more about Leo? Go here: Wikipedia Leonardo Puglisi (/pʌɡˈliːsi/ pug-LEE-see; born 12 November 2007) is an Australian journalist. He is the founder of online news channel 6 News Australia. He lives in Melbourne, Victoria. Puglisi began his media career in 2019, founding what was then initially known as HMV Local News but rebranded in 2020 as 6 News. Puglisi first came to attention in 2020 when he covered the secretive demolition of a bell tower at Hawthorn West Primary School in Hawthorn, Victoria. He has been the subject of a number of conspiracy theories, including that he was a "front" for the Morrison government and that he was being funded by Rupert Murdoch. Notable interviews Scott Morrison - Prime Minister of Australia (2018–2022), prior to the 2022 federal election Anthony Albanese - Prime Minister of Australia (2022–present) (interviewed during his tenure as Opposition Leader prior to the 2022 federal election) Kevin Rudd - former Prime Minister of Australia (2007–2010, 2013) Bob Katter - member of the House of Representatives for the division of Kennedy Fatima Payman - member of the Senate for Western Australia, following her crossing the floor. 2025 VIC Young Australian of the Year Nominee Leonardo Puglisi, at 16 years old, has made ground-breaking contributions to journalism at local, national and global levels. He founded 6 News Australia in 2019, initially covering local news in Melbourne then expanding to national and international coverage. Leading a team of reporters from around Australia, Leonardo’s platform has become a reliable and independent source of news for thousands of viewers. His innovative approach to digital journalism, utilising YouTube, TikTok and Twitter, has garnered a substantial following worldwide. He’s conducted notable interviews with key political figures, including Australian Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese. Leonardo has created a platform that gives a voice to young Australians, encouraging them to engage with current events and understand their role in society. This initiative has not only educated young viewers but has also inspired many to pursue careers in journalism and media, fostering a new generation of informed, critical thinkers. Honi Interview - Local Copy Word 2024 MediaNet - Local Copy Word 2021 The Age - Local Copy Word 2020 The Feed - Local Copy Word 2023 Crikey Leo's Father Benjamin is A Luthier ![]() |
A news reporter is a specific type of journalist whose primary role is to report news stories, events, and developments to the public through written articles, broadcast segments, or multimedia content.
News reporters cover a wide range of topics, including local and national news, politics, crime, business, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. They may work for newspapers, magazines, television stations, radio stations, online news outlets, or wire services, delivering news to the public through print, broadcast, or digital media platforms.
News reporters gather information through research, interviews, observation, and investigation, and then write or present stories that inform, educate, or engage audiences. They may cover a wide range of topics, including local news, national politics, international affairs, sports, entertainment, business, or human interest stories, depending on their beat or assignment.
While all news reporters are journalists, not all journalists may identify primarily as news reporters, as they may have other roles within the field of journalism such as editors, columnists, photojournalists, or multimedia producers.
News reporters keep the public informed about current events, developments, and issues that impact society. They adhere to journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and integrity, striving to present information in a clear, balanced, and unbiased manner.

Jerrie Demasi reporting news
(Source:
The West)
ANZSCO ID:
212499
Alternative names:
reporter, correspondent, announcer, columnist, broadcaster, newsperson,
commentator, newscaster, newshound, pressman or presswoman, journo,
Specialisations
Types of News Reporters
There are several types of news reporters, each with their own specific
roles and responsibilities. Here are some of the most common types of news
reporters and what they do:
Business Reporters: These reporters cover financial and economic news, such as stock market trends, corporate earnings, and mergers and acquisitions. They often interview business leaders and analyse economic data to provide insight into the state of the economy.
Entertainment Reporters: These reporters cover the entertainment industry, including movies, television, music, and celebrity news. They attend movie premieres, interview actors and musicians, and report on industry trends and gossip.
Feature Writers: These writers focus on human interest stories and long-form features. They often spend weeks or months researching and interviewing their subjects to create in-depth profiles and narratives.
General Assignment Reporters: These reporters cover a variety of news topics, from breaking news to feature stories. They are often the first on the scene of a breaking news event and are responsible for gathering information and interviewing witnesses.
Investigative Reporters: These reporters dig deep into a particular topic or issue to uncover new information or expose wrongdoing. They often spend weeks or months on a single story, conducting interviews, researching documents, and analysing data.
Political Reporters: These reporters cover political campaigns, elections, and government affairs. They attend political events, interview politicians and experts, and analyse policies and legislation.
Sports Reporters: These reporters cover sporting events and news, from professional leagues to high school and college athletics. They attend games, interview athletes and coaches, and provide analysis and commentary on sports-related topics.

Ali Bahnasawy,
SBS Senior Journalist & Presenter
(Source:
SBS)
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Strong investigative and research abilities: are helpful for this role. As a news reporter, you may spend much of your time conducting investigations to ensure you develop an informative and factual story. This could be through personal interviews, question-and-answer press conferences, various contacts or media briefings. In addition, conducting thorough research can help a news reporter collect relevant facts promptly and present them clearly.
Excellent communication skills: For a news reporter, excellent communication skills are especially advantageous. They can aid in your investigations and help to ensure coherent and concise delivery of the news. While conducting personal interviews or attending conferences and briefings, it's essential a news reporter can communicate effectively with various personalities. Calm and clear communication with people in different situations and circumstances is beneficial, especially if collecting information regarding a large, significant event. Clear communication might also aid you in delivering the news to the public by ensuring you verbally present the information clearly.
Competent writing skills: Good writing skills are likely a great asset if you're delivering the news via articles. Writing clear and informative articles can help you create an accurate news story. Efficient writing skills may aid you during your investigative period by enabling you to establish facts and document them. The ability to document your research quickly and in a logical form might be valuable. This skill may also help you deliver articles promptly.
Efficient organisation and time managements skills: As a news reporter, you may be responsible for researching breaking news events and adhering to tight schedules and deadlines. Good organisation skills can be an asset in these circumstances, as they can help you act quickly and decisively. During breaking news events, good time management skills may also aid you in adhering to tight deadlines whilst still providing clear, accurate reports. Time management skills can also help you balance priorities during busy schedules.
Ability to self-motivate: If
you can self-motivate, you might utilise this as a news reporter.
Self-motivation may help you achieve your research and create news
stories quickly and effectively. It might aid you in making decisions
independently when you're preparing articles or broadcasts. High levels
of self-motivation are likely to help you successfully reach your
professional goals as a news reporter.

(Source:
Your Career)
Duties and Tasks
The duties and responsibilities of a news reporter encompass a wide range of tasks aimed at gathering, verifying, and disseminating information to the public. Here are some key responsibilities:
Researching and Investigating: News reporters are responsible for researching and investigating news stories to uncover newsworthy events, developments, or issues. They may conduct interviews with sources, review documents, attend events, and gather information from a variety of sources to verify facts and gather evidence for their stories.
Interviewing Sources: News reporters conduct interviews with a diverse range of sources, including government officials, experts, eyewitnesses, and community members. They ask probing questions to gather information, seek multiple perspectives, and provide context for their stories. Interviewing skills are crucial for building rapport with sources and eliciting relevant information.
Writing and Reporting: News reporters write news articles, produce news segments, or create multimedia content to inform, educate, and engage their audience. They use clear, concise, and engaging language to convey information accurately and effectively. News reporters adhere to journalistic standards and guidelines, including accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and ethical practices, in their reporting.
Covering Events and Breaking News: News reporters cover a wide range of events, including press conferences, speeches, rallies, protests, and emergencies. They may be required to cover breaking news stories as they unfold, providing timely updates and live reporting to their audience. News reporters must work quickly and efficiently under tight deadlines to deliver accurate and up-to-date information.
Fact-Checking and Verification: News reporters are responsible for fact-checking and verifying information to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their stories. They corroborate information from multiple sources, cross-check data, and verify the credibility of sources to avoid misinformation, errors, or inaccuracies in their reporting.
Adhering to Ethical Standards: News reporters
uphold ethical standards and principles of journalism, including
integrity, honesty, transparency, and independence. They avoid conflicts
of interest, bias, sensationalism, and plagiarism in their reporting,
maintaining the trust and credibility of their audience.
Working conditions
The workplace of a news reporter is dynamic, fast-paced,
and often unpredictable. News reporters can work in a variety of settings,
including newsrooms, field assignments, press conferences, and remote
locations. The newsroom serves as the central hub where reporters gather,
research, write, and edit news stories under the supervision of editors and
news directors. In the newsroom, reporters collaborate with colleagues,
pitch story ideas, conduct research, conduct interviews, and meet deadlines
to produce news content for publication or broadcast.
Field assignments are an integral part of a news reporter's job, requiring
them to travel to various locations to cover events, interview sources, and
gather information for their stories. Field reporters may cover breaking
news, events, or emergencies as they unfold, providing live updates and
on-the-scene reporting to their audience. Field reporters must be adaptable,
resourceful, and able to work efficiently under pressure, often facing tight
deadlines and challenging conditions while delivering accurate and
compelling news coverage.
In addition to traditional newsrooms and field assignments, news reporters
may also work remotely or from home, especially with the rise of digital
media and online journalism. Remote work allows reporters to conduct
research, interviews, and writing tasks from any location with an internet
connection, providing flexibility and convenience. However, remote reporters
must stay connected with their editors, colleagues, and sources through
email, phone calls, video conferences, and social media to collaborate
effectively and ensure timely delivery of news content.
Tools and technologies
News Reporters need to have computers for research within their office as well as being comfortable with microphones and ear phones for communication.
A news reporter might have a basic understanding of
photography, specifically if they're attending an event to gain information.
If there's a time sensitive breaking news event, they might use this ability
to get photos of the incident. They may also learn how to operate a shirt
microphone, hand-held microphone and an ear piece for communication
throughout broadcasting. Some other equipment a news reporter might
understand how to use effectively is voice recording equipment for
interviews and notepads or a laptop and tablet for effective documentation
and communication.
Some news reporters also podcast their news. Look at the
Podcaster to see the tools required.
Education and training/entrance requirements
In Australia, while not always a strict requirement, a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, or a related field with a major in Journalism, is generally considered the most common pathway to becoming a news reporter. These degrees provide a strong foundation in essential skills like writing, research, and ethics, which are crucial for success in the field
Employment Opportunities
There are numerous opportunities for a news reporter from TV, Radio and Podcasting across Australia as well as overseas.

Kristy O'Brien at Timber Creek
NT
(Source:
ABC)
Sports commentators discuss and
describe sporting matches or events for the benefit of viewers or listeners
not able to be there live.

A sports commentator describes the progress of play during broadcasts of
sporting events and explains the technicalities and the tactics of the sport
to the audience.
Overall, sports commentators are very knowledgeable sports fanatics who provide coverage for games or competitions in a certain sport. While some commentators may only provide on-air commentary, others may specialize in conducting research or supervising the production of different sporting events. The road towards becoming a sports commentator may be lined with steep competition, but this career is the ideal path for individuals with superb communications skills who have a passion for helping others enjoy sports.
ANZSCO ID: 212499
Alternative names: Sports broadcaster, announcer, broadcaster, sportscaster,
Specialisations: a particular sport or code

Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become a sports commentator, you would need:
In order to be successful, sports commentators must have exceptional public speaking skills with a pleasing voice, good pronunciation, solid timing, and witty personality. Most sports commentators must write their own material for presenting on the air, so writing skills are a must. Research skills are important because sports commentators need to find up-to-date information on the latest sports topics for commenting on during the broadcast. Sports commentators should have excellent interpersonal skills to make interviewing guests, interacting with other broadcasters, and answering phone calls on air more comfortable. It’s also essential that sports commentators in radio have the technical skills to operate computers and editing equipment.
Sports commentators must combine all of those attributes so the things they say engage the audience and come across as friendly and intelligent. They should let their personalities shine through but not to the extent that they interfere with viewer and listener enjoyment of the game.

(Source:
Balance Careers)
Duties and Tasks
As a sports commentator, you might:
Life on the Job - Aaron Bryans
Cameo
![]() “I had always wanted to be a writer while also having a passion for sport. After visiting Open Day at Curtin, I was tossing up between sports science and journalism. I opted for the latter and never looked back. “I graduated in 2015 with extensive print, radio and TV journalism knowledge and ended up getting a job with the ABC shortly afterwards,” says the young reporter. In his role with the public broadcaster, Bryans interviews athletes, cuts and archives audio, researches facts on players and teams, and studies numbers ahead of weekend commentary calls for games (Bryans hints that if you want to be a sports commentator, you have to be prepared to give up your Saturdays and Sundays). “Alongside commentating, weekend days can end up being 12-plus hours long depending on other factors, such as hosting or producing the ABC’s talkback radio show, SportsTalk, or hosting or producing national AFL games. “During the summer we also have our National Grandstand radio show on the weekends alongside our cricket and basketball coverage.” The ABC is home to some of Australia’s best sports journalists and commentators, and tuning in to National Grandstand or SportsTalk throughout the year is a revered pastime for many a discerning sports fan. “From a commentary aspect, the ABC prides itself on its in-depth knowledge of players, teams and history of the sport,” Bryans says. “Our commentary is descriptive and informative, focusing on the game, not the commentary team itself. We want listeners to know the score and where the ball is at all times while allowing the experts to delve deeper into the analytical aspect of the game.” Bryans discovered his passion for sports journalism after racking up hours of work experience in the media industry, which helped him to figure out the areas of journalism he excelled at and enjoyed most. He says his work experience, which was often organised through Curtin, gave him an advantage when it came to applying for graduate roles. “When there are so many graduates competing for a position, the easiest way to stand above the rest is to have already done some work within the industry. “Through networking and relationships with my tutors, I was able to tee up paid and unpaid work with The West Australian, The Sunday Times, Xpress Magazine, ScienceNetwork WA [now Particle], RTRFM and the Fremantle Dockers during my degree. “The biggest factor in achieving these opportunities was work ethic, taught through real-time newsroom environments during my degree, which stressed speed and efficiency while also striving for accuracy.” He says working with the Fremantle Dockers was a particular highlight of the journalism course. ![]() “The Sports Media Production/Docker TV unit at Curtin is an incredible opportunity developed through Curtin’s partnership with the Fremantle Dockers. It runs as an advanced work experience unit that enables students to work for the Dockers, have their work edited and published for their portfolio and expose them to the lifestyle of a media worker in the Australian Rules Football landscape. “It also gave me a chance to work with a team of students, each with unique talents such as writing, filming, editing, lighting and audio.” While he’s only just cut his teeth in the industry, Bryans has already kicked a few career goals, including assisting with the coverage of the 2016 and 2017 AFL Grand Final, won by the Western Bulldogs and Richmond Tigers respectively. Although he’s a Richmond fan, Bryans says he was more impressed by the Bulldogs’ 2016 grand final win than the victory of the boys in yellow and black last year. “As a Richmond supporter, the 2017 grand final was a huge day for me, but as any neutral supporter would tell you, the game itself wasn’t overly entertaining. The Bulldogs 2016 premiership, however, was an incredibly exciting and unpredictable tale – hearing from fans who’d waited decades to see their team reach this point, and being in the crowd when the siren finally sounded for a team who finished 7th on the AFL ladder but won the premiership.” As well as covering national AFL games, he has also produced Ashes cricket coverage for National Grandstand and worked courtside at National Basketball League games. Bryans will be back in Melbourne this year for the 2018 AFL Grand Final, where he will cover the game on social media and assist with player interviews and photography. He’ll no doubt also be soaking up the atmosphere and perhaps brushing shoulders with some of the game’s superstars. He doesn’t take any of it for granted and says there’s still much for him to learn, including the art of calling an AFL grand final game. As long as he’s challenged, he says he’ll never forfeit his passion for sports journalism. “The best part about the job for me personally is how it’s constantly challenging. I always found with previous jobs I’d get bored once I’d mastered a specific aspect of it. “In journalism, your job is constantly evolving. I started out as a producer and over the years have moved into hosting and commentating. There are always new things to learn and new stories to delve into.” (Source: Curtin University) |
Working conditions
As a sports commentator you would work irregular long hours. Generally you would be commentating live at sporting events, which often take place in the evenings and at weekends.
Sports commentators
work most prominently in broadcast booths at stadiums and
other sporting venues. They may also work in an office-type setting
while preparing for broadcasts.
You would travel locally, nationally and internationally to wherever
the sport is being played. Depending on the sport you may be in a
commentary box or outside in all sort of weathers. You may also
spend time in a studio pre-recordng interviews or promotional
pieces.
Tools and technologies

Aaron Bryans at
production desk at ABC Radio Perth
(Source:
Curtin University)
Education and training/entrance requirements
You can work as a sports commentator
without formal qualifications. However, many sports commentators
begin their careers in other roles in media, such as journalism or
research. Most entry level roles in the media will require a
university degree in media, communication or journalism. To get into
these degree courses you usually need to gain your senior secondary
school certificate or equivalent with English.
Many sports commentators are ex-professionals in their chosen
sports, who have retired and moved into commentating, thereby making
it harder for others without the sporting experience to get roles.
Entry level roles in the media are extremely competitive. You should
try to gain some experience by volunteering or undertaking an
internship in community, university or commercial media.
Print Journalists collect and analyse facts about
newsworthy events by interview, investigation and observation and write
stories for newspapers, magazines or journals.

ANZSCO ID: 212413
Specialisations: Columnist, Feature Writer, Leader Writer,
Newspaper Reporter.
Duties and Tasks
Collects and analyses facts about newsworthy events from interviews, printed matter, investigations and observations.
Writes news reports, commentaries, articles and feature stories for newspapers, magazines, and journals on topics of public interest.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You usually need a bachelor degree in journalism, followed by a one-year
cadetship involving on the job training, to work as a Print Journalist.
Training is also available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).
| Did You Know? Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, was a reporter for a newspaper called The Daily Planet. ![]() |
Radio Journalists collect and analyse facts about
newsworthy events by interview, investigation and observation and write
stories for radio news or current affairs programs.

ANZSCO ID: 212414
Duties and Tasks
Education and training/entrance requirements
You usually need a bachelor degree in journalism, followed by a one-year
cadetship involving on the job training, to work as a Radio Journalist.
Training is also available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).
Television Journalists collect and analyse facts about
newsworthy events by interview, investigation and observation and write
stories for television news or current affairs programs.

ANZSCO ID: 212416
Duties and Tasks
Collects and analyses facts about newsworthy events from interviews, printed matter, investigations and observations.
Writes news reports, commentaries, articles and feature stories for television on topics of public interest.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You usually need a bachelor degree in journalism, followed by a one-year
cadetship involving on-the-job training, to work as a Television Journalist.
Training is also available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).
A music critic is employed by major print media publishers to report
on the performing arts. Local areas usually have part-time critics
who report regularly on local and visiting artists in the local
press. The usual tasks of a music critic include
writing reviews of newly released cd's and records and conducting interviews
with musicians, performers, and, bands.

Music Critics are employed by newspapers and blogs to interview musicians, review performances and albums, and sometimes cover music news. Although most publications have a few full-time Music Critics on staff, due to the increasing importance of music blogs, more and more critics work freelance.
The great thing about the music industry is that there is an endless input of new songs and continued discovery of new talents. As long as there are songs to be written, artists who perform it and people who listen and appreciate them, the opportunity for a music critic is vast. The road to becoming a respected music critic comes with its own set of obstacles. Rejection from publications is one that you will face and must overcome. Nevertheless, if you succeed, this career path will bring you both professional and personal satisfaction.
ANZSCO ID: 212499
Alternative names: Music journalists; Music writers
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Not only should you be a good writer, but also be a good communicator and interviewer.
Be familiar with various types of music.
Have ample knowledge of music history and notable musicians whether past or present.
Always be updated on upcoming artists and newly released songs.
Be fair, honest and impartial in your opinions.
If you're a freelancer, ask whether you will be paid per word or per article.
Build your portfolio

(Source:
Careers in Music)
Duties and Tasks
As with any journalist, the job of a music critic is to write articles based on the information they have gathered. They listen to cd's, attend concerts and talk to musicians in order to get more input for the material they are going to write. The articles they create are based on both fact and their personal impartial reaction to the music, song or artist. They inform consumers which albums are worth buying and which artists are worth seeing.
Working conditions
"Although some Music Critics work in offices, the majority work from home, so it can be isolating. As Patrin mentioned above, a Critic’s daily schedule varies depending on the workload from a few hours of writing a busy day where deadlines must be met. He says, “It can be pretty indoorsy, though part of the job can and will involve going out to live shows (often for free!) so that’s an incentive in itself.”
"Of a typical day on
the job, Music Critic Nate Patrin says, “I freelance, so it’s a mix
of things — listening to new albums as I get them, checking social
media/blogs for info and leads on things people are talking about or
just random stuff that seems interesting, pitching story
ideas/reviews to editors, and doing the writing, research, and
interview work itself.
“Even on the slowest days, I’m usually doing at least two or three
of these things during working hours, which can be a few hours of
the day or the majority of my waking hours depending on deadlines
and workload.”
Since the job involves a lot of time behind the computer, day-to-day
work can be solitary. As to people he works with, Patrin says, “I
contact Publicists every so often, but the vast majority of my
working relationships are with Editors.”
(Source:
Careers in Music)
Education and training/entrance requirements
It may be possible to build a following as a music critic through online reviewing without any specific education, although employment in this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, and most music critics have a relevant master's degree. Many music critics write on a freelance or part-time basis, providing articles to multiple publications.
As a science journalist you will be
reporting on some of the latest discoveries or advancements in science. This
might involve writing for a newspaper or magazine, talking on radio or
reporting on a television program as a broadcast journalist. 
Most of a journalist’s time is spent talking to people to get information
about a story either over the phone or face to face and working to short
deadlines. You might come up with your own idea for a story or you might
follow up information sent to you in a media release.
Being a journalist requires an excellent understanding of English and
grammar. Your job is to communicate information accurately and concisely.
Spelling and facts need to be correct otherwise your credibility as a
reliable journalist could be damaged.
Having strong skills in mathematics will also be useful to understand
scientific concepts or to interpret graphs and data. Lots of stories often
come from data results so you need to understand them and accurately report
on them. If you enjoy writing and learning new things, then a career as a
science journalist could be for you.
As a science writer you'll research, write and edit scientific news,
articles and features, for business, trade and professional publications,
specialist scientific and technical journals, and the general media,
including television, radio and blogs. As a Scientific writer, you report on
scientific news for the media and take on a more investigatory, critical
role. Science writing for non-media outlets involves communicating
scientific research to a professional or lay audience, either for journals,
promotional brochures and websites or as press releases.
Some science writing jobs might have an element of editing or broader
communications responsibilities in addition to researching and writing.
Science writers need to understand complex scientific information, theories
and practices. You should be able to write in clear, concise and accurate
language that can be understood by the general public.
| Did You
Know? Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM Science enthusiast and educator 2025 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Taken directly from Australian of the Year Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM brings science to life with wit and charm. In 1981, he walked into ABC Radio station Triple J and offered to talk about the Space Shuttle launch. Great Moments in Science ran while Karl pursued his medical career. Karl may have continued in paediatric medicine had it not been for the death of a baby from whooping cough. At the time, disinformation was circulating that vaccines didn’t work. Appalled by the harm caused, Karl decided to quit medicine and make science communication his full-time career. Karl presented on Quantum, co-hosted Sleek Geeks and appears regularly on radio and TV. His national weekly, one-hour science talkback show on Triple J, Science with Dr Karl, attracts more than 750,000 listeners, while the podcast downloads are over six million. He’s authored 48 popular science books and even built a machine to pick up electrical signals from the human retina for Fred Hollows. With infectious enthusiasm, Karl continues his mission to spread the good news about science and its benefits. Meet your Australians - 2025 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM https://youtu.be/soy5mWVmGEc?si=7e-w5iUOndu4gQvP |
ANZSCO ID: 2124
Alternative names: Science writer, Science Communicator, Scientific Journalist,
Specialisations: TV, Radio, Social Media,
Knowledge, skills and attributes

(Source:
Quest Project)
Duties and Tasks
The particular activities you'll undertake depend on the nature of your role and who you're writing for. Common activities include:
Working conditions
Working hours vary, although if you're working in-house you'll typically be working 9am to 5pm. However, science writers sometimes have to work long hours to meet deadlines, so you'll need a flexible approach to working extra to accommodate breaking news and in-depth, time consuming projects. Work is primarily office based but visits to meet with clients or to interview experts may be required.
Writers working for smaller
and non-media organisations will likely receive informal, on-the-job
training. This includes receiving feedback from editors, peers and
clients, and learning from more experienced colleagues. In general,
writers must be open minded, able to accept criticism and willing to
make changes to their writing style. As a writer, you'll also learn
to improve your writing through regularly reading the work of other
good scientific communicators.
It's important to keep up to date with any advances in the science
industry. Attending science-related conferences and gaining
membership to any relevant professional bodies are a way of
maintaining an ongoing knowledge of the industry.
Science writers often work on a freelance basis, putting forward
ideas for articles to science editors and by getting 'on the books'
as a regular freelance writer for one or more organisations. If this
applies to you, you may work from home or travel to company offices
if you've been contracted for a certain amount of work. Jobs are
available in cities throughout Australia.
Travel during the working day is common. Writers may also travel
internationally to attend conferences and visit clients.
Tools and technologies
Science Journalists use computers for research and writing, but may also use notepads and pens, dictaophones or portable sound and video recording devices, and may even be involved in the use of photographic and digital video equipment.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Broadly speaking, there are two routes you can take to become a science writer:
Some science writers have a science degree and
sometimes even a postgraduate science qualification. A scientist can
either start writing immediately upon graduation, or can move into
the industry after several years of scientific research.
Sometimes writers with science degrees take on a further
postgraduate qualification in journalism or scientific
communications in order to further their scientific writing careers.
These courses aim to help those from a science-based background
distil complex information to a level that the general public can
understand.
Degrees specifically in science communication are
available from a range of Australian
universities.
Employment Opportunities
Satire is a writing style that often educates and
entertains its readers. You might write satire if you work for newspapers or
media outlets, create your own fiction or nonfiction writing or simply want
to add elements of exaggeration and humour into your professional writing.
Knowing the most effective satire techniques can help connect you with your
readers or gain a new audience who enjoys that style of writing.
Satire is the use of literary devices such as humour, exaggeration or irony
to educationally criticize someone or something. Public figures,
politicians, political groups, prominent philosophies and popular culture
are some of the most common targets of satire. Satire is a way to provide
social commentary, and you can use satire in various literary genres such as
comics, novels, short stories, poetry and humorous news articles or essays.
Here are the three main types of satire:
Horatian: Horatian is satire aimed at flaws in humans rather than
societal issues. Its primary goal is often to entertain based on relatable
topics rather than to educate on larger issues.
Juvenalian: Juvenalian satire is often political satire used to
expose flaws, injustices or other problems in a society or group of people.
It's often more serious in tone than Horatian satire.
Menippean: Menippean satire is writing that targets people's
attitudes. It's similar to Horatian satire, as it's focused on an
individual, but its serious tone is more similar to Juvenalian satire.
A great example of Political Satire from Sammy J:
I Can’t Call
Australia Home | Sammy J (S4 Ep12) 6 May 2021
https://youtu.be/UW-C0PAocBU
ANZSCO ID: 212499
Who uses satire and Political
Satire?
Professional writers in any genre might use satire. If you're a professional
writer, consider using satire to comment on relevant topics using techniques
such as parody. Satire provides your audience with information often
disguised as entertainment or silly content. Newspaper writers might include
a satire section, and comic writers, essayists and novelists are some of the
most common professionals to use satire.
7 satire techniques
Satire techniques are strategies professional writers use to incorporate
satire into their work.
Here are seven techniques to consider when writing satire:
1. Exaggeration
Exaggeration entails making a situation or person look better or worse than
they are by overstating or understating certain characteristics beyond
reality. Exaggeration typically considers a person's or situation's real
characteristics and makes them seem ridiculous or far-fetched. For example,
consider the constantly increasing size of mobiles. When employing satire,
you might write about a future version of a phone that requires both hands
to carry.
Here are a few common examples of exaggeration:
Caricature: Caricature is the exaggeration of physical characteristics. For example, if you describe someone as tall, you might compare them to a tree or a building.
Burlesque: Burlesque exaggeration is the exaggeration of language. This might include creating new words based on how someone from a particular city pronounces them.
Overstating and understating: These techniques either increase or decrease a person, object or idea's size or significance. Understating the effects of something can show a character's deception while overstating can highlight a person's desires in relation to reality.
2. Incongruity
Incongruity is an often absurd method of satire where you present something
unexpected into an otherwise normal scene or story. Comic writers commonly
use this style where the actions of characters in a scene might seem normal,
but the caption displays incongruity. In writing, you might write a story
about a baby as the CEO of a company or a leader of a political party. They
might wear a suit or hold a phone, but still babble when communicating.
Because these things are impossible or incongruous, this situation is
satirical.
3. Reversal
Reversal is a type of satire that switches the positions of two things or
people. This can be effective to highlight absurdities in human actions or
behaviours. For example, a story of a life-size dog walking a human on a
leash is a reversal. Reversal often exposes problematic qualities in
situations or characteristics that we view as normal.
Donald: The Musical (w/
Tim Minchin,
Ben Platt & Abigail Spencer) 21 March 2017
Tim Minchin, Ben Platt, Abigail Spencer and James
Corden perform a parody of Matilda's "When I Grow Up" playing the roles of
Donald Trump, Sean Spicer, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon, respectively,
wondering what running the world would be like as adults.
https://youtu.be/WZWNHCRCpNM?si=Nl1kCJT-L7ZU2OMR
4. Parody
Parody in satire is the act of imitating either a person or an original
work. In writing, you might mimic the chapter structure, setting or main
characters in a particular work but alter other elements. If your reader
recognizes the original work in your writing, the parody you employ might be
more effective. Parodies often mock common conventions in literature and
style. For example, in a parody article, you might write the headline "Major
Celebrity Eats Lunch." Though this isn't an authentic article, it mimics the
absurdity of celebrity culture and paparazzi emphasizing mundane activities.
5. Irony
Irony is satire that compares what someone actually means with their
language against what they actually say or do. Here are the four main types
of irony:
Verbal: Verbal irony is when the meaning of what someone says is the opposite of the intended message. For instance, if it's expected to rain in the forecast, satirically saying that there's a beautiful weekend ahead is an example of verbal irony.
Dramatic: Dramatic irony is when a situation occurs despite what a character knows. For example, if a character ends a relationship to be with someone else and that other person is in a relationship with another person, that's a situation that features dramatic irony.
Situational: Situational irony is the difference between what people expect to happen and what actually happens. For example, you might write a story where a man walks to work only to find his office permanently closed.
Socratic: Socratic irony is when a person pretends to
be ignorant for personal gain. This reveals information to the audience
through one character tricking another character.
Consider using irony in your writing to explain contradictory ideas and to make your writing more appealing to audiences.
6. Anachronism
Anachronism is a type of satire that places people or objects in other
periods of time. For example, including cars in a story about dinosaurs is
an example of anachronism. This could show philosophical differences or
behavioural differences between people and time periods, adding a silly and
entertaining element to your writing.
7. Malapropism
Malapropism is the intentional mispronunciation or misuse of a word by a
writer. For example, a character might say that the class should rent a
"liberty book." Liberty almost sounds like library, so the reader knows the
intent. This creates entertaining content and can often reflect real
mispronunciations made by public figures.






























































































































































































































































































































