BY NURFARAHIN OKI
KUCHING: Prisca Empiang Robin, 22, the only intern from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), has been awarded the title of Best Intern among all those interning at Suara Sarawak (SS).
In an interview with New Sarawak Tribune, she said that it was initially intimidating to be the only intern until the UNIMAS interns joined her.
Over the past three months, she shared that she has grown significantly in terms of her writing and her interest in journalism.
New Sarawak Tribune: How did you feel when you first joined Suara Sarawak, and what did you expect from the company?
Prisca: To be honest, when I first started at Suara Sarawak, I was primarily focused on completing my industrial training, as I had no initial interest in becoming a journalist, even though I studied journalism at UiTM Shah Alam. My main concern was adapting to the writing style here, as I worried that what I learned in Peninsular Malaysia might not apply in Sarawak.
What challenges did you face during your first week of the internship?
Being the only UiTM student and without friends made it difficult for me to adjust to the office environment in the first week. However, I adapted better during the second week when trainees from UNIMAS also joined for their internships.
How have you grown over the past three months?
On my first day of the internship, I was determined to finish the programme as quickly as possible. But, due to the cozy environment at Suara Sarawak, a spark of interest in studying journalism more in-depth began to grow within me. The editors in the office consistently provided guidance and instructions to shape my writing style. Although I am just a trainee, processing press releases and covering events has made me appreciate the pleasures of being a journalist.
What else did you learn apart from becoming a better writer and listener?
I discovered that, in addition to becoming a competent writer, I was also improving my communication skills with the public and prominent figures. Being able to strike up a conversation or become a good talker is not easy. Additionally, I have become more skilled at handling situations where I had to attend unexpected events right away, and witness the uniqueness of Sarawak when gathering information for articles.
What are you grateful for after the training period?
I am grateful for the many things I learned at Suara Sarawak that I could not have learned elsewhere. With editors and senior journalists who are helpful and knowledgeable, I found it easy to ask questions about enhancing my work and learning how to create interview questions that can elicit newsworthy answers. The concern and readiness to give feedback and advice from all the senior journalists, and the executive editor, Puan Rohana, have made me feel grateful for the opportunity to do my industrial training here. Because of this, I had the chance to apply the skills I learned in university and refine my writing through news writing, interviews, and articles.
