Interview with Freya Noble, Senior Producer at nine.com.au

Freya Noble is a senior producer at nine.com.au. Prior to starting at the website, Freya had worked at Daily Mail Australia for four years in the roles of assistant news editor and news reporter. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.  

How did your first job at the Daily Mail prepare you for work in the industry?

I started as a graduate reporter, straight out of university, before the official launch of the local arm of the website. It was a great training ground as a young journalist, being incredibly fast-paced and intense. I had the opportunity to report on huge and important stories, such as the Sydney siege in 2015. After being promoted to assistant news editor, I got the chance to see how a newsroom operated from a different perspective.

What does your role as Senior Producer at nine.com.au involve?

My role at nine.com.au is a mixed production role. My primary focus is producing the homepage, but I also cover day-to-day news and work on long-form pieces for the website as part of the team.

How do you use press releases as part of your newsgathering process?

In many cases, they alert journalists to research or events that they may not be aware of and can be an extremely helpful tool when there’s so much to keep across day-to-day. A good press release needs to do more than advertise a product or event.

On your Twitter profile, you call yourself a bookworm. What books have you enjoyed reading recently?I have just finished reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. He writes beautifully, and I have read most of his back catalogue. Next on my list is I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. She tragically died while tirelessly researching the man now known as the Golden State Killer. As a massive true crime fan, I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into it.

How important is social media mastery for a journalist?

Essential. So many people live their lives on social media that it would be irresponsible to ignore the role it plays in what we do. Knowing what the audience is passionate about is at the heart of reporting, and social media helps give insight into this.