THE Border Watch journalist Jocelyn Nickels will be swapping heels for gum boots next month as she heads to the Royal Adelaide Show as part of a prize for receiving a statewide award.
Recognised for her coverage of the Mount Gambier and Mil Lel shows last year, she was recently announced as the recipient of the 2017 Rural and Regional Journalist Professional Development Award.
Travelling to Adelaide in just over a week, she will work alongside a journalist at The Advertiser, covering farming stories at the much-loved Royal Adelaide Show and spending time in the city newsroom.
Celebrating a successful first year with the Mount Gambier based newspaper last week, Ms Nickels said she was excited about the chance to learn from bigger city journalists.
“It is a great opportunity and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to broaden my skills and explore agricultural journalism,” she said.
“This is something I have been interested in for a while having spent time on a farm with my dad in Currency Creek when I was younger.
“Since I have been working at The Border Watch, this passion has continued to grow – my first front page story was on the dairy crisis.”
While at the show, Ms Nickels will also be gathering stories about South East farmers to be published in The Border Watch once she returns.
“I would love to have some farmers lined up to speak to before I head up there – I don’t want to miss out on sharing someone’s success at the show,” she said.
“This opportunity isn’t just about learning from being involved with a big city newspaper, but is a chance for me to gather further contacts in the agricultural industry from the South East.
“Normally we would have to wait until the farmers return home to get the story, but this way I will be able to speak to them in the midst of the action.”
Ms Nickels will be at the Royal Adelaide Show on September 7 and is calling on local farmers to get in touch before she heads off to line up an interview on the day.
Contact Ms Nickels on 8724 1516 or 0407 444 413 or email jocelyn@tbw.com.au for more information.
