MFJ Cait Cefai Top-Five National Finalist for the Brian White Scholarship
Monash journalism student Cait Cefai was recognised for her radio talents when she finished top five nationally in pursuit of the coveted Brian White Scholarship.
Image: (L-R) Ebony Weston, Gareth Thomson, Fiona Ellis-Jones (ARN), Erin Maher (Nine Radio), Ford Ennals (CRA), Michelle Stephenson (NOVA), Amy Goggins (SCA), Daneie Geddes (scholarship recipient), Caitlin Cefai, Claudia Goundar
The scholarship is a competitive annual radio journalism initiative open to Australian students.
Cait was flown to Sydney for a journalism masterclass, presented by radio leaders and editors from 2GB (Nine), NOVA, ARN and SCA.
The finalists performed for the industry leaders at Sydney’s Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) headquarters.
University of Newcastle journalism student Daneie Geddes won the coveted scholarship, which includes a four-week paid placement in Australia’s leading commercial radio newsrooms.
The scholarship is named to honour Brian White, the country’s first radio news cadet and the pioneer of the news/talk format in Australia.
Cait said she was “so grateful to have been a part of the experience” to award the scholarship recipient.
“I have been working towards a radio journalism career over the last year, and it means a lot to me to be recognised nationally for my skills and efforts,” Cait said. “The workshop was a rare opportunity to have news directors give me notes directly onto a news bulletin I wrote, and their feedback has been invaluable for me as I move forward in my career.
“The competition was incredibly strong, and while I was not successful in winning the scholarship, I wish Daneie the best throughout her internship.”
Cait was selected from many journalism students nationally.
“I was nominated by Monash University and my application included writing a personal statement, two radio bulletins for both FM and AM radio, and recording a sample of one bulletin,” Cait said.
“I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been selected as one of the finalists, and I thank the teachers from the School of Media, Film and Journalism who have supported me in pursuing the scholarship.”
The high calibre of the finalists was noted by the judges and by CRA chief executive Ford Ennals, who launched the masterclass.
“Australians feel safe knowing radio news remains a trusted source of information. Commercial radio broadcast more than 42,000 hours of Australian news in 2022,
with hundreds of journalists covering the stories that matter to commercial radio listeners, from emergency announcements and breaking news to sporting team results,” Mr Ennals said.