Broadcast career offers a global perspective
Date posted: 15 Dec 2011
Jessica Swann
BA (Media & Comms) 2008
Her career has taken her from Salt Lake City to the Middle East—yet ABC Riverland's morning radio presenter Jessica Swann still gets goosebumps when asked about her time at Swinburne.
“We tend to under-estimate the value of an undergraduate degree. Although certain subjects seemed irrelevant at the time, I have drawn on my studies at Swinburne countlessly throughout my career,” she said.
“During my time at Swinburne I had the opportunity to study subjects such as Marxism and post-war Feminism. As a journalist you are expected to understand a broad array of ideas in order to engage with society—Swinburne certainly equipped me for this.”
Shortly after graduating with her BA (Media & Communications) in 2008, Jessica travelled to the US where she landed an internship at the American Broadcasting Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah. She then headed East and worked for seven years in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Jessica began as executive producer for the Arabian Radio Network’s flagship Dubai Eye business program the Business Breakfast—and was later appointed to the role of deputy programming director for the network.
She then went on to create news, current affairs and human interest talk-back radio program Dubai Today.
Jessica said that her decision to study at Swinburne was driven by her desire for creative and hands-on practical experience.
“Swinburne prepared me especially well for my role in radio.
“When I first joined Dubai Eye I felt a sense of relief in knowing how to use their equipment, as it was the same as what I had learnt on at university. The course was also enough of a foundation that I was able to pick up the other broadcasting systems quickly.”
After several years working abroad Jessica felt it was time to move back to Australia. Whilst finishing up in Dubai she received an offer to present ABC’s morning radio program Riverland Today in South Australia.
From her time working in the Middle East, Jessica developed a strong interest in Islamic culture. As a result, she is now pursuing postgraduate study to explore the representation of Islam and Muslims in the mainstream media.
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