2024 Brian White Scholarship awarded to Grace Barlow

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has announced Grace Barlow as the winner of the 2024 Brian White Scholarship.

The scholarship gives Grace, a student at Perth University of Notre Dame Australia, a unique opportunity to embark on a four-week paid placement, gaining experience across the newsrooms of ARN, SCA, NOVA Entertainment and Nine Radio.

“This year’s competition set a new benchmark with the highest number of applicants in four years. Our finalists represent the future of radio news, and we are thrilled to see such remarkable talent emerging in our industry,” says CRA Chief Executive Officer Lizzie Young.

The scholarship recipient was selected after an intensive workshop at ARN’s offices, where ten finalists were mentored by industry leaders in commercial radio news.

Led by Fiona Ellis-Jones (ARN), Michelle Stephenson (NOVA Entertainment), Erin Maher (2GB, Nine Radio) and Amy Goggins (SCA), each shared their personal experiences and expertise on succeeding in radio.

Ellis-Jones said the level of skill and passion in the room was outstanding.

“It’s exciting to see the next generation eager to contribute to radio’s unique ability to reach audiences in a meaningful way.”

Stephenson, who has been a judge for the Brian White Scholarship since its inception in 2017, said “From breaking news to the everyday updates that matter, it’s often through radio that people first hear what’s happening in the world.”

Goggins told the finalists “In the newsroom, no two days are the same, that variety keeps the work both challenging and exciting.”

Maher added “There’s no better place for a journalist than radio. It’s immediate, it’s intimate, it’s always evolving – offering endless opportunities for storytelling.”

The annual scholarship honours the legacy of radio legend Brian White, the first Australian commercial radio cadet journalist. White pioneered the news talk format and had a career spanning three influential decades.

Entries for the 2025 Brian White Scholarship will open early next year. The competition is open to recent graduates or students in their final year of a relevant course such as Communications, Media, Journalism, and Radio. For details, keep an eye on CRA’s socials.