AUT - Our People
Our People
The Business of Creativity
Nemane Bieldt
Bachelor of Communication Studies – Creative Industries
“I chose to study creative industries because I love creative people. I knew that by choosing
this major I would be able to work closely with the ‘creatives’ in their respective crafts and
experience the excitement of the creative world along with them.
“While completing the major we worked on the redevelopment of The Peace Place, a community centre in downtown Auckland. It gave us the opportunity to plan our own creative project, consult with a real client and work with a range of individuals, from advertising creatives to marketers. I also had the opportunity to work with the creative team from New Zealand Musician magazine on its 20th anniversary edition. It was a great experience, giving me real insight into how a creative business works.”
A Rapid Rise
Ziena Jalil
Bachelor of Communication Studies – Public Relations a rapid rise
Ziena Jalil is New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’s regional marketing and communications manager for North Asia – a position she attained just five years after graduating with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations.
Based in Hong Kong, her primary role is to raise awareness of New Zealand as a trade and investment partner in North Asia. “My work allows me to be involved in some ‘once in a lifetime opportunities’. For example I was partof the team that worked on events supporting the New Zealand-China free trade agreement signing ceremony. Watching New Zealand flags flying in Tiananmen Square, witnessing the signing ceremony at the Great Hall of People, managing the media frenzy – it was an opportunity that not many people get.”
Skills Transfer
Lauren Alpe
Bachelor of Communication Studies – Radio
In her role as programming scheduler for MTV, Lauren Alpe prepares daily broadcast logs for the channel and helps to determine which videos are played. She works regularly with record companies and organisations such as NZ on Air and Sky Television.
“I majored in Radio and work in music television, but so many of the skills I learned in the course are transferable to what I do now. I use the same computer software at MTV that I used in the radio degree. But to look at it more broadly, majoring in Radio meant I learned a lot about the New Zealand music industry, record labels, broadcasting standards and so on and I use that knowledge every day.”
A Career on the Digital Highway
Kate Rhodes
Bachelor of Communication Studies – Television
Digital television is opening up exciting career opportunities as channels proliferate and
television becomes available for viewing on PCs and mobile devices.
Kate Rhodes went to work as a scheduler for TVNZ’s digital channels just weeks after
graduating with her Bachelor of Communication Studies in Television.
“I help to choose the content and schedule what goes on air. I started working for TVNZ 6 a few weeks after finishing my degree in November 2007 and helped to launch TVNZ 7 in March 2008,which was very exciting. I decided I wanted to go into television when I was 14 and knew that AUT’s BCS had the best reputation, so that’s where I went. Learning about the history of
the media and how it shapes our society was fascinating and the range of practical courses
offered was great.”
Herald Reporter Endorses Qualification
Vaimoana Tapaleao
Bachelor of Communication Studies – Journalism
“Choosing to do journalism at AUT was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The course was awesome with a balance between theoretical work and practical work. I did the Bachelor of Communication Studies, and being Pasifika was a massive bonus because the course dealt with intercultural topics like how to report fairly on Mäori and Pasifika issues.”
“Now the new Graduate Diploma in Pacific Journalism is a step forward for upcoming Pacific journalists. We need more Pacific and Māori journalists to tell our stories and to take multicultural New Zealand into the newsroom.”