This year the Walkley Foundation was proud to have student journalist Amy Figueiredo, from Curtin University, join us at the 2023 WA Media Awards ceremony.
Here is her interview with ABC News reporter Cason Ho — winner of the ‘New Journalist or Cadet — The Eaves-Prior-Day Prize’, sponsored by Cannings Purple.
Curtin University alumnus Cason Ho has been named the 2023 West Australian New Journalist of the Year.
“It feels really good to represent the ABC and be recognised for the work we do,” Cason said.
Cason was presented with the Eaves-Prior-Day prize — which honours AJA members Jack Eaves, Selwyn Prior and Merv Day, who took a great interest in the training and development of young journalists — at the WA Media Awards ceremony on Saturday, October 7. Plus, he was nominated as a finalist in the ‘Multimedia News’ category.
“It has been really tough adapting to an evolving media landscape while learning how to be a journalist, however, the newsroom at ABC Perth has been really supportive,” he said.
The WA Media Awards judges said Cason is “a voice for the voiceless” and is an “immaculate storyteller with ethics and sensitivity.”
He was applauded for uncovering stories from society’s most vulnerable people and gaining their trust.
Cason has been at the ABC since 2021, and has been working as a multimedia reporter since 2022 covering a wide range of issues from the WA border reopening after two years of COVID-19 travel restrictions and the Voice referendum to Albany’s beached pilot whales.
“I love photography and videography and that’s where my heart lies, and the ABC is expanding a lot in its digital reach so it’s sort of a dream job for me to work here,” Cason said.
Cason graduated from Curtin University in 2021. He says the best advice he has for new journalist graduates is to always say yes.
“Don’t be afraid to push for what you think is good journalism,” he said.
“A lot of bosses are looking for innovation and people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and take the initiative. You might not like some of the things but they just need doing.”
