Elyce Behrsin

As a post-grad journalism student who majored in International Studies for my Bachelor Degree, the opportunity to report from the annual UN DPI/NGO conference in Melbourne this year, was too uniquely perfect for me to pass up.

In addition to being the ideal chance to gain some much desired journalism experience; it also allows me to be involved with international affairs, something that I have had an ebullient interest in for the past four years.

Despite living in a period of intense globalisation, where communication across the globe has become almost limitless, I have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of social awareness for global conditions.  Just the other day I was asked by a work college, what the United Nations was?  This only reinforced to me the responsibility of journalists to disseminate important information to the wider populace.  My growing awareness of global inequities drives me to pursue a professional career, aimed at heightening social conscience and hopefully stimulating positive change. I hope to begin this endeavour through my role as a student journalist at the UN conference.

Over the past few years I have gained an exceptional respect and interest for cultures other than my own.  The prospect of liaising with people from all over the world, is one the most exciting elements of this event for me.  I am also especially excited about working alongside the youth delegates.  Not to sound clichéd, but the youth ought to be the voice of the future.

I hope you will share my enthusiasm for this conference, as I am eager to keep you well informed.