Region Riverina’s newest reporter, Erin Hee, is looking forward to hearing all the stories Wagga and its surrounds have to offer. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Before landing in Wagga Wagga as Region Riverina’s newest journalist, award-winning reporter Erin Hee had her sights set on a different career in a different city.
Born and raised in Malaysia, Ms Hee moved to Sydney and was poised to complete her Bachelor of Psychology degree at Macquarie University.
“I wanted to be a psychiatrist or a forensic psychologist growing up, and I was finishing my psych degree when I realised I don’t actually enjoy doing psych,” she said.
“While studying, I was fortunate enough to receive a lecture from Associate Professor Rachel Kallen on social interaction in the modern world, which fascinated me.”
The 26-year-old student decided she wanted to use her skills in psychology to solve problems in real life and found the perfect medium for that.
“My dad really supported me in pursuing a journalism degree, so I applied for UTS [University of Technology Sydney] because I heard it was the best place to study journalism,” she said.
After 18 months of postgraduate study, Ms Hee completed her Master of Advanced Journalism degree while securing the Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize for Journalism.
“The Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize was awarded to the top-ranking female students in journalism,” Ms Hee said.
“I had two pieces submitted for the award, which included a thesis on how language and framing during COVID-19 affect prejudice against Chinese people in Australia. Phrases like Chinese Flu versus COVID-19 affected reporting.
“The second piece was a multimedia feature on extreme heat and how it affects Australians’ mental health.”
UTS senior lecturer Catriona Bonfiglioli was impressed with Ms Hee’s tenacity and inquisitiveness, so recommended her to Region Riverina editor Oliver Jacques when he told her he had a vacancy.
“I have been very fortunate to have only experienced a supportive and good news environment,” Ms Hee said.
“It’s one of the most inclusive news organisations I’ve worked with. It is very interesting working in the small Wagga office, but I’ve enjoyed the job so far.”
On arriving in Wagga, Ms Hee was warned about taking on the 5 O’Clock Wave at Wagga Beach but claimed she had the skills to take on the infamous wave.
“So many people have warned me about it,” she joked.
“I’ll have to go down to the beach one day and see what the commotion is all about.”
When she’s not at work, you can find Ms Hee at the gym, on a run or at an Indie concert, enjoying small yet loud crowds singing to emerging artists.
“Indie concerts are so much better than bigger concerts in stadiums,” she said.
“They’re more engaging, and the people who go always have better experiences.”
Ms Hee encouraged those who have an interesting story to tell, or news they wish to share, to reach out.
“I’d like to hear what’s going on here in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina,” she said.
Contact Erin Hee with any story ideas or breaking news at [email protected].
