SYN FM strengthens news offerings through innovative RMIT Journalism Society partnership

SYN FM, Melbourne’s youth community radio station, will strengthen its news and current affairs offerings in 2023, launching a new partnership with the RMIT Journalism Society.

The initiative, to be known as the SYN Press Club, will create new broadcast training opportunities for young journalists, and builds on SYN’s legacy as a training ground for the next generation of local journalists.

The initiative, which has been co-designed by SYN and the Journalism Society, is a newsroom training program which will induct members into SYN; the first round, to be held this February, will be exclusive to Journalism Society members.

The Journalism Society facilitates opportunities, networking and development for emerging journalists at RMIT and beyond.

SYN’s Induction Coordinator Laura Green said both organisations are looking forward to offering young journalists more avenues to upskill.

“It is our hope that after a tough few years under Covid, both organisations are working toward a revitalised future for our journalists, and enabling them quality training the way we have done for years.”

“Being on the university’s campus, we already have a strong relationship with the Journalism Society, but formalising this partnership allows us to open up opportunities for young journos to improve their skills,” Green said.

RMIT Journalism Society President Loughlin Patrick praised the partnership.

"We're thrilled to enable opportunities for our members through continued partnerships with community media organisations like SYN,” Patrick said.

“We can't wait to see how this novel initiative develops participants' broadcast skills and builds their professional networks.”

The SYN Press Club training program ensures emerging journalists have pathways to increase their broadcast skills, attend workshops, network with their peers, and take up independent opportunities to report for SYN and the RMIT Journalism Society through news bulletins and existing flagship current affairs programs.

Future SYN Press Club training sessions will be available to anyone aged 12-25 interested in upskilling in media and communications.

SYN’s Community Manager Jake Stevens said the partnership builds on the station’s recent work with the Melbourne Press Club.

“Young people have been telling their stories at SYN for more than 20 years, and I’m delighted that we’re fostering new relationships to make news and current affairs an attractive offering to the next generation of journalists in Melbourne.”

Contact Laura Green at induction@syn.org.au for more information about future programs. Contact Loughlin Patrick at news@syn.org.au for information about the journalism opportunities at SYN and the RMIT Journalism Society.