Working at Amnesty International and interviewing Australian politicians and musicians are just some of the things international student Eduardo Jordan Perez has enjoyed during his Masters degree at Griffith.
It was while Eduardo, from Mexico, was studying a computer science degree that his interest in journalism was first piqued.
“My friends asked me to volunteer as a producer at the university’s radio station,” he said.
“I enjoyed it so much that once I completed my degree I continued working on the radio show and then decided to study journalism overseas.”
After researching many universities he enrolled in a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication degree through Griffith’s School of Humanities in 2011, adding on an Honours year once completed.
“It has been one of the most intense and rewarding times of my life.”
As part of his program Eduardo gained an internship with Amnesty International Australia. His role included covering stories, uploading content to the website, managing the picture database and developing the monthly electronic newsletter sent to more than 11,000 human rights supporters across Queensland.
“The internship gave me a thorough understanding of the communications area as well as the human rights movement,’’ he said.
After completing his Amnesty Internship, Eduardo began working as a producer on The Wire — a national community radio program broadcast to 180 community radio stations across Australia — where he has been for the past two and half years.
“The fact that you learn something new every time you step into the studio amazes me so much.
“I have had the opportunity to interview Indigenous artists like Shelley Morrison and Kutcha Edwards, human rights advocates, professors and politicians including Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Marcelle Hoff.”
Eduardo is also the 2014 National Secretary for the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations for 2014. He assisted the Annual Council Meeting in Hobart last year representing the Griffith University Postgraduate Students Association.
Now studying a PhD in journalism at Griffith, Eduardo is researching how editors select international news in Australia and wholesale news organisations such as Reuters or Australian Associated Press affect the gate-keeping process of Australian media.
“Australia has given me the time of my life learning what I am passionate about and applying that knowledge to the benefit of this nation, without forgetting my roots,’’ he said.
