Journalist Spotlight | Interview with Madeleine Damo, Reporter at Wentworth Courier and The Daily Telegraph

In the ever-evolving world of media, navigating a career path can be both exhilarating and daunting. For many aspiring journalists, the journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns, shaped by early experiences and the relentless pursuit of passion. In this Journalist Spotlight interview, we delve into the career of Madeleine, a journalist who has carved her niche in the bustling landscape of news reporting. From her beginnings as an Editorial Assistant at The Daily Telegraph to her foray into Public Relations, Madeleine shares insights into how her diverse roles have equipped her for the dynamic challenges of covering courts, crime, and general news. Join us as we explore her story, the lessons learned, and the aspirations that drive her forward in the media industry.

Hi Madeleine! Thanks so much for chatting with me! Firstly could you tell me about the beginning of your career in the media? I know you began as an Editorial Assistant at The Daily Telegraph but also had experience in Public Relations. How have your previous roles helped you in your current position?

I always sort of wanted to be a journalist, but it wasn’t necessarily a career path that was encouraged.

When I was in high school, achieving a career in journalism was a pie in the sky aspiration. All I heard was “too competitive, no jobs, a dying industry, you’re better off doing advertising.” So I did my bachelor's in PR and advertising, I did a few internships in PR and quickly realised I was bad at it and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me. 

I was quite lost for a bit and knew in my heart that I wanted to be a journalist but had a lot of self-doubt and thought I’d missed the boat for my break in the industry. I was just lucky enough my sister-in-law Kristen helped me get a job as an editorial assistant at the Daily Telegraph, and from day one on that job I was like yep, this is it. This is the world I want to be a part of. I loved the beating heart of the newsroom and felt a kinetic excitement I hadn’t felt before from a job. 

On another level my experience in PR has given me respect and empathy for the professionals on the other side of the inbox. It’s a grind and I know how hard they work.

What does your media cycle currently look like? And what does covering courts, crime and general news entail? What does your day to day currently look like?

I feel like I am a bad case study to answer this because my media cycle is chaotic and everyday is completely different (which is how I love it). 

Some days it's responding to breaking news like a car crash or a crime scene, maybe it's a press conference or a full day juggling multiple cases at court. And then there are the days spent in the office doing research and interviews. At the moment things are more chaotic for me than ever after making the massive switch from covering predominantly the Penrith area to the eastern suburbs.

I understand that you are also pursuing a Masters in Journalism? Could you speak to me about this decision? How has it helped you so far, and would you recommend those wanting to pursue a career in the media to study for a degree in journalism too?

I chose to pursue a masters (which I have just completed) shortly after beginning at the Telegraph as an editorial assistant. I started at the Tele in late 2020 after having just got my bachelor's in Public Communication. I knew I wanted to be a journalist but there were so many gaps in my knowledge and practical skills I was missing from not having a journalism degree. Given how time-poor most newsrooms are, I didn’t necessarily think other journos would have the time to teach me. Things like having a basic understanding of defamation and contempt, along with basic audio and video editing skills and reading from a teleprompter. I do think these are important.

A lot of the events you report on, while very important, seem tragic and depressing. How do you cope, as a journalist, in reporting these types of stories?

I think there is still a long way to go for the industry as a whole in discussing and unpacking the trauma we experience and bear witness to on the job. For me I’ve found individual stories don’t tend to affect me on the day-to-day. It's more a thing that builds up and wears me down over time. 

I try to be vigilant if I feel I’ve reached my quota of distressing/traumatising content. Some days I wake up and it’s like, “Nope, today I’m not writing about horrific crimes against women and children, today I’m writing about something non-traumatising, like development applications!”

I also try and be mindful of the media I consume outside of work so I’m not constantly bombarding myself with heavy content. My friends will recommend me true crime podcasts and I’m like, “No thanks, I’m off the clock! Time to watch Kath and Kim for the 100th time.”

What’s your experience been in speaking with and reporting on the people involved in these tragedies?

Every time is different, I think you’ve got to be hyper-aware and vigilant to the other person’s state and know when to deflect or de-escalate or change the tune. It’s important to remember professional boundaries while still employing compassion and empathy. Its a delicate balancing act.

What other stories do you hope to write about? And could you speak about the growing recognition of the need for more localised reporting? 

At the moment I am very much looking forward to writing more Sydney centric stories. There’s much more to our city than just the harbour, the beaches and the struggling nightlife. There’s so much going on below the surface which informs the way our city operates, and I want to tell more of these stories.

Local news is vital. Our communities and suburbs are often microcosms for Australian society as a whole, and local news stories are reflective of societal trends unfolding on a larger scale. There’s a lot to learn if you keep your ear to the ground.

Finally, what makes for a good pitch? How does your pitching process look like and what do you look for in pitches?

A good pitch is one that I struggle to explain it to my editor because I am too excited and stuttering because I can’t get the words out fast enough. It’s one where I want to drop everything I’m doing to try and smash it out instead. It’s one where I feel I will never emotionally recover if another journo gets to it first, it’s where I ask myself “Will I be able to cope if I get scooped?”

What I look for in pitches is an obvious hook, it's got to immediately resonate. If it’s a pitch coming from an agency on behalf of a client, the first thing I look for is a newsworthy angle. Or is this just free PR? And of course it’s got to be an exclusive.