2019: Realising the power of journalism - University of Wollongong – UOW

On Alice Matthews’ very first reporting shift for radio current affairs on ABC, she learnt a valuable lesson as a journalist: the story you think you’re going to cover, may not be the story you file at the end of the day.

Matthews went out that day in 2015 to cover a book launch by Sydney vascular surgeon Dr Gabrielle McMullin. What she got was a respected surgeon speaking out about the sexual harassment that was rife in Australian hospitals.

“That was probably the first highlight, realising how much power someone speaking out can have and the impact that can have,” Matthews says.

The series of stories that followed her initial report won Matthews a Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year Award for Radio/Audio Journalism. The issue became the focus of national attention and led to changes within the medical profession.

“At the time it was a pretty open secret I guess, among that industry, and it was her words and her conviction, her real bravery to stick with that and say: `Look, we’re not going to stand for that anymore,’ that led to all of the change,” Matthews says.

00:03

I'm Alice Matthews I'm a journalist and

00:06

I studied a Bachelor of journalism and a

00:09

Bachelor of Arts majoring in Spanish I

00:10

started as an intern at radio current

00:13

affairs at the ABC and then some

00:15

transcribing work came up so I started

00:17

doing that for a while and then

00:19

eventually a researcher role popped up

00:21

there and I became a researcher at radio

00:24

cone affairs which then led to me

00:25

working in the New South Wales newsroom

00:28

and the later on bigger and then later

00:30

on triple j working at Radio cone

00:32

affairs was incredibly intimidating

00:34

because it was conference based

00:37

obviously and it was like I felt so out

00:40

of my depth but when you feel out of

00:43

your depth and when you get the job done

00:45

you feel a real sense of achievement to

00:47

be honest I was pretty skeptical about

00:49

journalism when I first started I didn't

00:51

want to be that person badgering people

00:53

in a crowd and being annoying and being

00:56

nosy but then I realized what like what

01:00

power journalism has to change things

01:02

and what power single people have just

01:05

by speaking out I know loosely I'd like

01:07

to be in Canberra at some point but I'm

01:10

not sure what capacity I'll be there in

01:12

but that kind of excites me I think that

01:15

I went into journalism with an idea that

01:17

certain way that I would have to be a

01:19

certain person but my advice would be

01:22

that you can remain true to yourself in

01:24

in this profession it's incredible in a

01:27

job where you can get paid to do what

01:29

you love and do interesting things and

01:32

just be yourself it's incredible you it

01:35

wasn't certainly like a shift I had to

01:37

be like prepared to put myself out there

01:39

but that there's nothing wrong with that

01:42

that that's a good thing and it's been a

01:44

lot more fun just so glad I got to work

01:46

extra CJ I still certainly consider this

01:50

my dream job I had actually never been

01:51

to splendour before I started working so

01:54

it was so cool that I finally got to go

01:55

and also just meeting all of the people

01:58

here that you've listened to before and

02:01

just getting to know them has been an

02:03

absolute joy because they're all amazing

02:05

and then getting to work with him is

02:07

even better I think what I learned from

02:09

my degree that I'll take with me is to

02:12

always keep in mind sensitivities and be

02:15

sensitive with the people that you're

02:16

working with and particularly journalism

02:19

remember that there are still people not

02:21

just a story

“Really it was me following that change not instigating it. I worried a lot about [Dr McMullin] and if she was ok with [the attention] but then I guess, you want … people to talk about it, having other people talking about it eventually leads to structural change. But it is quite intimidating because once you do a story and it is followed, you do lose control of it and it’s amazing to see actually.”

Seeing the difference one person could make – and the power of journalism to amplify those stories – helped Matthews realise she had chosen the right career path. Formerly a reporter and news presenter with Triple J, Matthews is now co-host of The Feed on SBS, and has worked on many more notable stories. Among those she is most proud of are stories reporting on the fact that the Northern Territory was the only Australian state or territory which had not wiped historical convictions for gay sex offences. Her reports on the work of advocates helped the push which led to change.

No matter what the issue she is reporting on, Matthews refuses to become a hard-bitten journo, instead remaining sensitive to the people behind the headlines.

Alice Matthews

“I think what I learned from my degree that I’ll take with me is to always keep in mind sensitivities and be sensitive with the people you’re working with. Particularly in journalism, remembering they’re still people not just a story. I think [UOW lecturer] Shawn Burns had a lot to do with that,” she says.

Prior to working at the ABC, Matthews worked in Paris at The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) as a video journalist and blogger. She dedicated most of her time in that role to working on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) study on global legal frameworks protecting journalists’ sources.

More recently, she has worked on a report for the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) called A Short Guide to the History of Fake News and Disinformation. For both projects, she collaborated with UOW academic Julie Posetti.

“[The WAN-IFRA] role is completely attributed to Julie, she’s been such a force in that sphere and we’ve been so lucky to be able to work with her,” Matthews says of her former teacher. “My particular role in [the ICFJ] project was mapping misinformation and disinformation throughout history, and by doing that, learning that it has always been a thing. It’s just now we have these incredible tools to spread this disinformation and misinformation to more people. The reason why bringing this to light and helping people understand it is so important is because misinformation impacts so many things. It can change people’s beliefs, it can change people’s opinions, it can change elections.”

Matthews is not sure where her journalism career will take her, but she’s embracing the uncertainty.

Alice Matthews

“I had a vague idea that I really wanted to work for Triple J but it was each job that led me to the next job that led me to the next job so I’m kind of excited to follow where that takes me. I know loosely I’d like to be in Canberra at some point but I’m not sure in what capacity I’ll be there in, but that excites me.”

Alice Matthews
Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts, 2014