The Masterclass Podcast

Louisa Lim
The Masterclass Podcast

Learning Through Listening: Lessons in audio from some of the best audio journalists in the world, hosted by Louisa Lim from the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.

  1. S03E12: Wing Kuang on Starting a Career in Journalism

    13/05/2024

    S03E12: Wing Kuang on Starting a Career in Journalism

    “What makes you different from your peers who also want to get a job in journalism? ABC audio producer and digital reporter Wing Kuang is an expert at turning a disadvantage into an asset. Having first come to Australia as an international student, she encountered a lot of barriers to finding a job as a journalist. She says that community radio provided important opportunities to develop her skills and build a portfolio, and that it was ultimately her social media presence that led to her first job. “Tweeting had become my only way to make myself known.” WORK MENTIONED https://allthebestradio.com/featured/500-retrospective-vanishing-voices/ https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/days-like-these/wing-vs-the-machine/101916326 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  2. S03E11: Kirsti Melville on Working with Sound

    06/05/2024

    S03E11: Kirsti Melville on Working with Sound

    “The minute I walk into that space, I turn my audio ears on.” ABC broadcaster Kirsti Melville is an award-winning radio documentary maker, who always starts planning for an audio feature by thinking about sound. Melville describes how she triages the audio in any recording environment, and how she works with sound to create immersive and impactful storytelling. "I often talk about it in quite filmic terms. Think about it in terms of small close-up sound and broader, wider sound that creates a scene." WORK MENTIONED https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/earshot/earshot/102676508 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/earshot/the-ghosts-of-wittenoom---part-one/10635386 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/earshot/the-ghosts-of-wittenoom-part-2/10747390 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
  3. S03E10: Tamara Oudyn on Voice in Audio Journalism

    29/04/2024

    S03E10: Tamara Oudyn on Voice in Audio Journalism

    “Your voice is such a personal quality…It’s like your own aural fingerprint.” As an ABC voice coach and journalist, Tamara Oudyn is shaping the diverse voices of the national broadcaster. Here she describes the lessons she teaches cadets, including the role of the 3ps - pitch, pace and pausing - in broadcasting.  Her emphasis is on training young journalists to sound like themselves on air.  “Authority comes from being comfortable in front of a microphone and knowing what you are on about.” WORK MENTIONED https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/crime-pays-the-mystery-behind-why-we-love-crime-dramas/101742770 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  4. S0309: Jo Lauder on Audio Storytelling

    22/04/2024

    S0309: Jo Lauder on Audio Storytelling

    "The thing that I love about audio is that...it's really intimate." ABC journalist Jo Lauder says audio can be really effective in transporting the listener to a particular time and place. She explains how she goes about planning different types of audio pieces, whether for Triple J's Hack or long-form narrative podcasts like Saving the Franklin. She says it is crucial to engage the listener right from the start. "You grab them with the curiosity. You just have to really hook someone in so they want to find out what's going on." WORK MENTIONED https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/dig/series-3-saving-the-franklin/102414460 https://soundcloud.com/triple-j-hack/jo-lauder-goes-on-a-space-walk-with-earthlight https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hck-2024-01-04/103234860   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  5. S03E08: Daniel Browning on Objectivity in Journalism

    15/04/2024

    S03E08: Daniel Browning on Objectivity in Journalism

    “Who measures objectivity? Who judges objectivity?” Objectivity is traditionally seen as a cardinal tenet of journalism, but Daniel Browning's long experience in Australian newsrooms has left him questioning whether objectivity is possible, or even beneficial. The Bundjalung and Kullili man, who leads the ABC's Indigenous Radio unit, says First Nations communities have been failed by the Australian media. He champions the idea of subjective journalism, believing that being 'close to the subject’ can be an asset.   “The lie of objectivity is that we assume we have it.” WORK MENTIONED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsySGx7ReWU https://magabala.com.au/products/close-to-the-subject See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  6. S03E07: Konrad Marshall on the Craft of Feature Writing

    08/04/2024

    S03E07: Konrad Marshall on the Craft of Feature Writing

    “Always get the name of the dog, the brand of the beer, and the title of the song that was playing as the car crashed off the road.” This is one writing commandment that the award-winning writer for Good Weekend Konrad Marshall keeps top of mind, as told to him by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom French. For Marshall, that attention to detail is one trademark that helps set his work apart. As a feature writer, he sees his main job as engaging readers in a captivating story. “I’m just trying to get your attention for thirty-five minutes on a Saturday morning by reading something that you really enjoy.” WORK MENTIONED https://www.smh.com.au/national/couch-surfer-in-his-30s-oscar-winner-in-his-40s-why-the-whole-world-wants-taika-20231101-p5egs4.html https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2016/the-noongar-warriors/ https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/rod-laver-gets-back-into-the-swing-of-life-and-love-20190115-p50re5.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  7. S03E06: Stephanie Convery on Feature Stories

    25/03/2024

    S03E06: Stephanie Convery on Feature Stories

    “Focus on the intimate and particular.” When it comes to feature writing, Stephanie Convery says it is often the small details that count. Her work with Guardian Australia involves shining a light on inequality, and frequently focuses on people’s personal circumstances. She likens features to creative writing in the need to draw on literary devices to ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ the reader why a story matters. She says the key to starting any feature story is being curious. “When you go to write a feature you don’t necessarily know all the answers to the questions that you’ve asked. Part of finding the answers is writing.” WORK MENTIONED https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/25/yachts-at-the-top-power-privacy-and-privilege-in-the-world-of-australian-superyachts https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/13/slowly-tortured-by-his-brain-family-urges-action-on-head-trauma-at-concussion-inquiry https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/21/we-need-to-be-alarmed-food-banks-in-overdrive-as-politicians-allow-australians-to-go-hungry See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  8. S03E05: Laura Murphy-Oates on Interviewing

    18/03/2024

    S03E05: Laura Murphy-Oates on Interviewing

    “You can’t go in with no idea of what you might hope to get out of it, but you have to be open to what happens in the interview.” As former host of Guardian Australia’s Full Story podcast, Laura Murphy-Oates speaks to people for a living. Here she outlines her rules for interviewing, including the pre-interview research process and how to structure questions. She describes the importance of an ethical approach, particularly when interviewing marginalised communities. The interview's purpose, she says, should always be top of mind.  “Think about what the audience would want from the interview.” WORK MENTIONED https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/jun/26/a-deep-sea-explorer-on-the-oceangate-disaster-and-the-rise-of-submersibles-full-story-podcast https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2021/jan/21/the-indigenous-family-fighting-back-against-a-legacy-of-police-brutality https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/oct/09/we-dont-want-your-backyard-briggs-on-why-hes-campaigning-for-yes-full-story-podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
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About

Learning Through Listening: Lessons in audio from some of the best audio journalists in the world, hosted by Louisa Lim from the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.

Information

  • Creator
    Louisa Lim
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Louisa Lim
  • Show Website
    The Masterclass Podcast

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