Ruby Nyika: A journalism graduate’s survival guide
Wintec journalism graduate Ruby Nyika shares her tips on the journalism industry and how she balanced study with her work.
Do the extra stuff and be bold. That’s the advice of Wintec journalism graduate Ruby Nyika.
Hard on the heels of gaining her journalism diploma, Ruby Nyika shared her experiences in the industry so far during Wintec’s annual Spark Week Festival.
Nyika graduated from Wintec in 2017 and received a job the same year after interning at the Waikato Times.
She said there was not a big issue transitioning from studying to full-time work.
“I was doing interning in June and then they had an opening, so they hired me in July. I was still studying. So I started part-time there and studying at the same time.
“Gradually I just took on more and more hours until I was full time.”
As a recent graduate, Nyika had no shortage of tips and advice for current journalism students.
“Working on stuff alongside study,” Nyika said, “I think that’s a really cool thing to do rather than just doing the mandatory stuff. That’s the stuff that sets you apart from other people.”
Nyika also said being introverted and working in the world of communications isn’t a bad thing.
In fact, she believes that it can be an important asset when scoping out stories.
“A lot of the time, introverts can be really good at listening and watching other people. You’re interested in other people and just soaking stuff up.”
However, her two biggest tips for future journalists are to intern lots and be bold.
“As a student, a lot of the time, we find we have to stick to those community stories and tick off the small stuff.
“People love young people. They love the ‘millennial’ type. It’s like this ‘newness’ and that’s what they actually want from you.”
