Lois Maskiell is a participant in the 2020 Journalism Professional Practicum. Lois is studying Masters of Communication at Monash University.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS program?
I decided to undertake the ACICIS practicum because it was well aligned with my career goals. I hope to specialise in international current affairs, so completing in-country study in Indonesia and a professional internship was an opportunity simply too good to pass up. I was also impressed by the list of host organisations that ACICIS has partnerships with and one of my professors gave the program a glowing review.
Q: How will the Professional Practicum benefit or influence your future career?
The professional practicum will be especially helpful for my future career. The practicum allowed me to gain hands-on experience in broadcast journalism. It also provided me with a portfolio of work that I can show future employers to demonstrate my experience.
Q: What organisation did you intern with? (Explain your roles and responsibilities)
I was an intern with a national news channel called Metro TV. I worked with the production team of their English-language program World News which airs live, nationally. My responsibilities included producing new stories from wire service, sourcing footage, writing scripts and organising content in a production program in time for each evening’s show. I also had the opportunity to pitch ideas and make news packages on topics such as economic law reform and a fake kingdom.
Q: How have you found the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
My host organisation was incredibly welcoming. The team I worked with were all bilingual and most of my colleagues spoke English better than I could speak Indonesian. The main difference I noticed between my host organisation and Australian workplaces I’ve been in was its flexible approach to time, known as jam karet (rubber time) in Indonesian.
Q: Would you like to return to work in Indonesia again in future?
I would love to return to Indonesia to work. With a population of around 270 million people, it would be a dynamic country to cover for a young journalist.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Indonesia?
I spent time with friends I met throughout the program including practicum students and Indonesian students from Atma Jaya University. The journalism program ran at the same time as business and law practicums, so it was wonderful to meet students from other disciplines. I also spent time with Indonesian students who I met during the first two weeks of the program and I hope to stay in contact with them in the future.
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase?
Mungkin nanti (maybe later) – a polite way of saying no.
Q: Favourite place to eat? Favourite Indonesian food?
Fried noodles is my favourite dish. I also found lots of great cafes that sell a range of iced drinks you can’t find in Australia. My favourite was Janji Jiwa where I often had coffee there with colleagues from Metro TV.
Q: What places in Indonesia have you visited during your practicum so far?
I explored Jakarta most weekends and visited tourist attractions, markets and malls. One highlight was the Fatahillah Museum in the vibrant Old City. The museum, located in the old administrative headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, has a fantastic exhibition that follows Indonesian history from the Dutch colonial period, to independence and to contemporary times.