A welcome financial boost for aspiring young journalists

Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara is pleased to announce that Elsie Williams and Phoebe Utteridge, both from the University of Canterbury, are the inaugural winners of the Brian Gaynor Scholarship in Journalism.

The contestable scholarship encourages and supports final-year undergraduate students interested in pursuing journalism as a career, with a focus on business journalism, and recognises the contribution that Brian Gaynor (co-founder of Milford) made to business journalism in New Zealand. The scholarship was founded by Brian’s wife Anna Gibbons, and supported by the Milford Foundation. Each student receives a $5000 scholarship.

Elsie Williams

Elsie Williams is in her final year of a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Journalism at the University of Canterbury. She is passionate about pursuing a career in journalism on completion of her degree. “Despite changes in the media world, I am determined to work hard and contribute meaningfully to discourse on business and the economy in Aotearoa, especially in the heart of Ōtautahi as they continue to grow the CBD post-earthquakes.” Like so many students, Elsie is busy juggling multiple projects and jobs in addition to her academic commitments and the scholarship’s $5000 stipend will have a profound impact on her daily life. “The financial support from this scholarship means I can focus more on honing my craft and less on financial survival.”

Currently based in Christchurch, Elsie feels a strong connection with Ōtautahi. Since completing an internship at The Press earlier this year she is keen to keep her strong links with the city. “I love the rich history of Ōtautahi and I love telling the stories of the locals who are working so hard to make it an even better city post-earthquakes.”

Phoebe Utteridge

For Phoebe Utteridge, winning the Brian Gaynor Scholarship means she’s one step closer to her dream of working as an investigative business reporter. “My journalistic goal,” says Phoebe, “is to hold those in power to account and communicate vital information in digestible, understandable ways. Receiving this scholarship will give me the financial boost required to get me through the last stretch of my degree”.

Also in her final year of a Bachelor of Communication, Phoebe has had work published in The Press and is currently helping to run a pilot programme aimed at bringing journalism students together with digital screen students to work on video stories. 
Later this mont, she will be joining Stuff as a national journalist, based out of their Christchurch office. In this role she hopes to build on her journalism skills and eventually join the in-depth/investigative team.

For more information about the Brian Gaynor Scholarship, click here.

For further information about this year’s winners or to arrange an interview, contact comms@universitiesnz.ac.nz or +64 27 636 5050.