Stuff invests in the future of grassroots journalism

AUCKLAND, Today: Stuff is continuing to grow its commitment to rural New Zealand, partnering with Our Land and Water National Science Challenge to develop a rural intern programme.

Stuff has hired two new interns through the partnership to encourage talented graduates to consider a career in rural journalism.

Stuff reaches more rural people than any other media company and last year relaunched NZFarmer in print and digital, packed full of content relevant to rural audiences.

Its rural content covers the latest news affecting the sector, including economic trends, agri-business, and political news affecting on-farm decision-makers and rural communities nationwide.

Our Land and Water communications director Annabel McAleer said rural news was an underrated pathway for graduate journalists, but a rich opportunity to build skills in reporting business, climate change, science, environment, politics, food and beverage – “all in one beat”. 

“Our goal in sponsoring these cadetships is to encourage talented graduate journalists to spend a year or more covering rural news, building contacts and knowledge about the opportunities and risks that are increasingly forcing a fast pace of change in our primary sector.

“Even if these cadets don’t stick with rural reporting throughout their career, they will take a much deeper understanding of the realities and pressures of rural life into their future reporting, supporting our future newsrooms to report with empathy on issues affecting rural New Zealand.”

In-coming intern Bethwyn Littler is a recent Massey University graduate who joins Stuff’s Waikato newsroom. Eve Hyslop is a recent graduate of the University of Canterbury, joining the Christchurch newsroom.

“Both will be getting their boots muddy while honing their agri-media skills.”

Littler has a background in retail and early childhood education, along with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Waikato and a Diploma in Teaching. Looking for a change in career, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism in 2023.

She says: “I’m looking forward to getting out and about producing rural content.”

Hyslop has recently completed three years’ study for a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Journalism. She is comfortable with rural life, hailing from a sheep, beef and cropping farm on the outskirts of Timaru.

Hyslop says: “I can’t wait to give back to the background that raised me, report on the issues that matter most to the agricultural sector and connect with those at the heart of it; the farmers, the growers and the community holding it together.

Both will be getting their boots muddy while honing their agri-media skills writing rural content for Stuff’s daily mastheads and NZFarmer, New Zealand’s largest rural newspaper.

The pair will be mentored by their local newsroom teams, alongside experienced farming journalist and NZFarmer editor Sonita Chandar, and Stuff’s Editor-in-Chief National, Bernadette Courtney.

Courtney said the rural sector is a key audience for Stuff, and she is excited to welcome Littler and Hyslop to the team. “They’ll have the opportunity to learn from some of our country’s best journalists and gain invaluable career experience at New Zealand’s biggest media organisation, while building important connections across rural New Zealand.”

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industries provide major production and export business in New Zealand, with a GDP amounting to over $ 13.5 billion per annum.

Stuff significantly boosted its rural offering with the relaunch of NZFarmer in 2023. The publication has a strong and enduring connection with rural communities across the motu and compliments Stuff’s extensive reach across print and digital channels.

It features stories that matter to people in the rural sector – from future-focused research, sustainability and innovation to travel and real estate.