Third-year Journalism and Broadcast Media students from Edith Cowan University (ECU) have the exclusive opportunity to produce the Project WA program that airs on Channel 7.
ECU Course Coordinator Dr Steinar Ellingsen says that ECU students produce Project WA on Channel 7 to a wide audience on a commercial network.
“It is a significant highlight for students to add to their respective portfolios and showreels,” Dr Ellingsen says.
“It provides students with real-world experience in producing stories for broadcast, while demonstrating their skills as reporters, presenters, and interviewers. It’s an absolute joy to see it all come together.”
The partnership with Seven has been running annually since 2021, with this year’s cohort of students producing a program covering stories about crayfishing, wildflowers, windfarms, a suburban sustainability initiative, and community fitness groups.
One of the Project WA presenters, ECU Bachelor of Media and Communication student Joshua Dowdall, says producing the broadcast was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences he has had while studying.
“Project WA is about promoting our beautiful state’s many wonderful facets. I chose to focus on the rising glamping industry in Western Australia, which allowed me to travel around to Guilderton and the Perth hills,” Dowdall says.
“Throughout planning my topic, reaching out to experts and putting everything together, I learned the importance of effective communication and adaptability. This project not only enhanced my research skills but has also boosted my confidence in reaching out to people.”
In addition to hosting the Project WA project, Dowsall has also run RadioECU on the university’s Open Day and connected with industry and university peers during his broadcasting and digital journalism course.
“Everyone in the class gets on exceptionally well, and the staff are nothing short of excellent, so it’s quite fulfilling completing the course with like-minded people. Overall, the course has not only made me a more confident person but has also taught me a lot of life lessons,” he says.
“In the future, I see my career lying in the radio and sports journalism industries. Sports have always been a big thing for me; it’s what I love the most. However, the course has opened my eyes to radio broadcasts. I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed learning it in one of my previous units, and I’ve loved it ever since.
“I aim to continuously develop my skills and contribute positively to the industry, bringing stories to life and connecting with audiences on a deeper level.”
