Michelle Coursey​

In 2007 Michelle Coursey graduated from Wintec with a Diploma in Journalism and high hopes of a career in the magazine industry. 

Six years later, she became editor of popular women's magazine, New Idea, after working for other publications including as a writer for NZ Woman's Weekly and editor of Girlfriend. She later moved from this role into freelance writing and editing. Her roles have included social media manager for TVNZ shows My Kitchen Rules NZ (2014) and MasterChef Australia (2014/15), and editor of Real Estate magazine. 

Coursey puts getting her first job down to hard work, and a lot of experience in the industry before graduating. She says that while internships may be a bit unpopular with students because the work is largely unpaid, she feels they helped her dramatically. “They really built the basis for my career,” she said. 

Coursey spent more than eight weeks interning at the Waikato Times, the New Zealand Herald, the Herald on Sunday and the Listener while she studied. On graduation and heading into her career she had a vast portfolio of published work under her belt, and feels there is no doubt the internships paid off. 

Her passion for writing means she is a spelling and punctuation nerd and admits it is the ultimate turn-off when she reads a cover letter with mistakes all through it.

Her advice to those finishing their studies is to get in the industry and work for free if you have to. 

“Journalism and the media is all about working hard and taking any opportunities that come your way.”

By journalism student, Olivia Johnstone (abridged/additions)