2014 Young Rural and Regional Journalist Professional Development Award Recipient (Oct 2014)

Young Naracoorte journalist, Syke Hoklas has been announced as the recipient of the 2014 Young Rural and Regional Journalist Professional Development Award.

A journalist with the Fairfax owned Naracoorte Herald since 2012, Skye is also currently completing the fourth year of a Bachelor of Journalism with an Associate Degree in Languages & Culture (Italian) at the University of South Australia.

Jointly sponsored by the RA&HS Education Foundation and RMSA, the award enabled Skye to spend two days of high level work experience with senior Advertiser journalists covering the recent Royal Adelaide Show. The award also funded Skye's living expenses whilst away from home, in addition to providing funding to the Naracoorte Herald for the back-filling of the journalist position while Skye was absent.

The aim of the Young Rural and Regional Journalist Professional Development Award is to encourage young regionally based journalists to report on country shows, in addition to providing them with professional development through short term work placement with senior journalists from Channel 7, ABC Rural Radio, the Advertiser or the Stock Journal.

Skye’s choice to spend time reporting with highly experienced Advertiser journalists highlighted her long term commitment to the print media.

Another professional development opportunity for Skye was the opportunity to gain further experience in public speaking by addressing the hundred attendees at Rural Media South Australia’s 2014 Royal Show Breakfast meeting.

As part of her application for the award, Skye included a portfolio of her published articles featuring the 2013 country shows at Lucindale and Naracoorte, in addition to articles focused on local South East farmers who entered the 2013 Royal Adelaide Show.

RMSA President, Ian Doyle (left) and Skye Hoklas (right) at the presentation
of her Young Rural and Regional Journalist Professional Development award