NZME journalist Michael Neilson says he loves the job because you get to learn about something new and meet amazing people most days. Photo / Doug Sherring
NZME journalist Michael Neilson says he loves the job because you get to learn about something new and meet amazing people most days. Photo / Doug Sherring
Name: Michael Neilson Age: 28 Job: Journalist Location: Auckland Number of years as a journalist: 3
The best story I've worked on, and why:
A feature on environmental issues in the Raukumara Forest Park. Not only did I get to fly into the rugged forest on a helicopter, but I got to experience thedevastation in the ngāhere first hand alongside tāngata whenua, and be there to witness their grief and resolve to do something about it. It was a powerful experience.
Funnily enough it was at the start of my career when I had the opportunity to intern at the Sydney Morning Herald's office in Jakarta, Indonesia. I got to try out being a foreign correspondent for a month, and dive head-on into some big stories including about rainforest destruction and LGBT rights issues. It was a very eye-opening experience.
I love journalism because:
You get to learn about something new and meet some amazing people every day, well, most days at least.
