Eugenia Kourkoutas is a recent Western Sydney University graduate. She was a W’SUP News editor and Student Publications Committee member during her studies.
Kourkoutas’ author profile can be found here.
The speech she gave on W’SUP’s March 2025 Media Day can be found here.
Kourkoutas reflected about her time with W’SUP…
- What did you initially set out to accomplish?
Pertaining to my newly completed degree, I recently graduated at Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring Social and Cultural Analysis and Social Anthropology. Within this degree, I knew that I absolutely wanted to pursue being either a social researcher, a policy analyst in government, but my true dream was being a journalist. I am still pursuing these careers, but I dream of being either an investigative or a feature writing journalist, so I can research and use what I have loved learning about society, politics and culture, and facilitate it in ways to bring new perspectives, justice and change.
- What led to your interest in journalism?
My interest in journalism started before I even began my degree and then solidified within my senior years in high school in my society and culture classes. I have always been fascinated in the ways that we as people, communities and cultures thrive and engage within our societies and how our histories, beliefs and values truly make up the world we see today.
However, I learned extremely quickly at this young age that these foundations of our everyday lives also function through the legacies of injustice, disparities and inequalities that people in society continue to suffer daily. In researching all of these truths and realities, I became infatuated with the work of researchers, academics and most importantly journalists.
I loved the way they spoke with integrity, with power, with authenticity in bringing voices that needed to be uplifted to people’s attention — how they reflect the realities of things happening within our world to bring education, understanding and harmony through just a couple of sentences. I loved everything about journalism, and I still do. I love how powerful words can be. How powerful knowledge can be, how seeking and uplifting someone else’s story can bring so much peace as well as justice or change. It’s amazing. It’s magical, and I wanted to be that. I wanted to be that change.
This love for journalism propelled me throughout my entire academic journey, but I knew that my degree wouldn’t be enough to secure me into this fast-paced career after I finished university. I needed first-hand experience.
I first did an internship with Liverpool City Council and that was fantastic. There I was able to visualise where my degree was going to be used through practical experience, and see how I will uplift the communities, culture, and people and their stories within my local area — it was wonderful.
Yet even with this hard work, my journey came with doubts that because I didn’t go through the traditional route of getting a journalism-related degree that I wouldn’t be able to become the journalist I wanted to be or even be as close to my peers in doing so.
I adored what I was learning and how I was able to put everything I learned into writing and into very practical experience. But even through my passion and even through my degree, I still wrestled with doubts that because I didn’t go with the traditional communications route, that I wouldn’t be chosen, that I wouldn’t be sought out for a job, that I wouldn’t even be close to my peers in doing what I wanted to do.
So, I wanted to seek out more experience through our university’s newspaper. I thought to myself, If I could get a job there, show my work and learn from my peers I would adore it. Luckily, during that time I got an email from Western Student Life saying W’SUP News had an opening for the editor role. I applied as soon as I could and thankfully got the role. I was excited, scared and overwhelmed all at the same time, and I’m so happy I did it because it was truly an amazing experience. It solidified within me my love and passion for journalism as well as confirmed that this career is where I am meant to be.
- 3. Describe your W’SUP experience.
I remember when I first came to W’SUP News, I was very scared because I didn’t have a lot of experience. I only had some experience in writing for assignments, such as with research papers, articles and blogs. Luckily, my time at the council gave me a bit more experience in professional writing. But overall, I was a fish out of water.
So, to help myself grow within my position, I took an elective subject ‘Journalism 101’ to learn how write professionally. To say that I was scared was an understatement. I had so many fears about whether I was good for the job, if I was ready for this job, but even through all these fears, I jumped into the role… And I truly loved it.
I was able to facilitate the student voice, through Western Sydney student media and beyond, within different universities, different communities, different organisations. It showed me how everything I’ve learned can be used in real life. And I loved it. I loved every bit of it. I loved the collaboration with my team where we would ask each other for support, where we would bounce ideas off each other for pitches and stories. Even though there were times where I sometimes still felt a little like a fish out of water compared to my peers who had way more experience.
However, I never felt abandoned. I never felt isolated. I felt so supported. If there were ever any concerns I always had W’SUP Director, Natasa Aster-Stater and the Publications Officer, Ellie Winter, both of whom helped me and supported me. I loved every bit of it. I experimented with so many mediums, not only articles, but opinion pieces, reviews, photo essays, feature writing, investigative work. I wrote media releases and covered events. I was able to create such a diverse portfolio in such a short amount of time, and it was wonderful.
- What did you learn? How did this prepare you for future internship/work opportunities?
Because I was able to learn such a multitude of journalistic forms and reporting, and learning as a freelancer, I have been more confident now going for internship or job opportunities by knowing I have something to bring to the table. I can still say my piece about what’s going on in the world or within our local Western Sydney community, and I’m so happy. I’m happy that I can show to employers my portfolio and say this is what I’ve done, and this is who I am through these articles.
So, I’ve really loved every bit of what I’ve been able to do and achieve. But truly all my confidence in knowing I am meant to be a journalist would not have been solidified without the support of W’SUP. Even through the stress and pressure of doing full time university and a part-time job. I loved the stress. I loved the pressure. I loved every bit of it.
It’s magical. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful — the way I feel I’ve consistently brought new perspectives and change.
- Reflect on what you accomplished in W’SUP News… How did you find purpose?
I feel that I have accomplished my dream in being a voice for the voiceless, and bringing change, understanding or maybe just a little bit of reflection on people’s stories and communities or even just things happening within our world. I feel that I have highlighted my fellow students’ voices and brought justice to the stories that need to be heard. I feel accomplished in the ways I’ve grown and learned, from my first article to now. I still have a lot of learning and growing to do, but it’s wonderful.
I think my biggest accomplishment within my time at W’SUP was an investigative feature piece on a refused encampment Palestine protest at the University of Wollongong, and how I was able to highlight the injustices that were happening there. The best response I got to that article was from one of the leaders of the organisation. After it was published, she wrote to me personally via email to say, “Thank you so much for my piece and for your time. This piece is so thoughtful, meaningful and authentic to our cause.”
The part that really impacted me was at the end; “If you’re wanting to pursue a career in journalism, I am sure it’s a bright future ahead.”
After wanting for so long to bring change and to inspire even just one person the way I’ve been inspired, this was my biggest accomplishment. What I was able to do for her community, their team, and helping my peers to be heard was absolutely amazing. It brought tears to my eyes because, in that moment, I really felt like a journalist. I felt so proud of what I was doing and the person I was becoming. I’m still proud of how I’ve been able to move people or make them feel less alone or more understood with my words. I plan to continue practicing my writing and my work.
I really feel like I have a bug. I have the bug of journalism, and I’ve caught it and I’m not letting it go. Because through these experiences, I have found my purpose within this career and it’s so special seeing my dreams come true.
- Is there anything you want to add?
Through my story I want to inspire and motivate anyone else who is reading this, particularly anyone aspiring to a career in journalism, research or academia.
If you are even just moved by what is happening in our world and feel unsure if you should pursue your passions… I say jump. Dive into your writing and dive deep.
Your voice, your writing and your knowledge deserves to be heard. Your peers and communities deserve to be heard. In such a desolate time where writing and reporting directly reflects our society and its democracy, continue to exercise your right to write. Because journalism and especially student journalism, matters now more than ever.
We are the faces of the future. We must be the change we want to see in this world. To be its mirror through our words in the hope of understanding and unity.
If you if you have the same passion that I do, and if you’re wanting to pursue this, continue to reach for the stars, take on as many classes as you can, as many workshops as you can. Do not live in your doubt, because you, your writing and your voice deserve to be recognised. Most of all, you are worth it. You are worth the time, the energy, and you are worth becoming that powerful change in this world.
I say this as a mantra to myself as well.
Continue to write, continue to be that voice for our generation and make change.
Thank you for reading my story.
