22 November 2008
Te Waha Nui - the story behind the paper
August 26, 2004
Students producing AUT journalism school's newspaper Te Waha Nui are feeling the pressure.
The 12-member editorial team led by editor Peter White are expected to turn out four 24-page issues in eight weeks between August and October.
"If you think that is a huge task for a group of journalism students then you're right," White says. "But with such a dedicated team I know we will succeed and make a mark on the rather staid New Zealand newspaper market."
Te Waha Nui's editors are taking a course called News Production, introduced into AUT's journalism programme this year and run by advisers David Robie and Allan Lee.
Students take on roles including chief reporter, design editor, picture editor, layout sub etc. They swap roles for each of the four editions this semester.
Te Waha Nui was first published in November 2003, with a second edition in June this year.
While earlier editions had a heavy news focus, the August 23 paper currently circulating includes a revealing feature by Patrick Crewdson on what life is like for immigrants who feel dislocated from their own culture and not part of New Zealand culture.
It also has new columnists including Dr Paul Moon, a leading academic and expert on treaty issues, and Sudesh Kissun whose piece on Fiji drew the attention of both Scoop and Radio New Zealand International.
A street survey of 234 voters shows Aucklanders are not well-informed about the upcoming local body elections.
And Tiana Miocevich's cartoons feature prominently in the paper.
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| Above: Tiana Miocevich and her caricature of editor Peter White. | |
