THE FOURTH ESTATE/SUCCESSFUL CAREERS:

What made Latika M Bourke the insightful and savvy politics reporter/columnist that she is today? In a world exclusive, The Bug has been handed a 20-year-old, seven-inch, reel tape of a conversation between first-day cadet Bourke and her very first newspaper editor in an unnamed regional newsroom.

Enjoy as you also get an amazing insight into the highly respected and objective journalist she is today.

Editor: Welcome to the team, Latika! I see you’ve already grabbed some notebooks and biros from the stationary cupboard …

Bourke: Stationery, with an “e” as in envelopes.

Editor: You cheeky young bugger but yes, well done. Good pick-up. And shows a commendable contempt for authority, even mine. No wonder you went so well in your job interviews. But, now, are you ready to be thrown in the deep end?

Bourke: Let me at it!

Editor: Grab a snapper. I want you to go into the town’s centre and chat to business owners and residents and hopefully some farmers and graziers in town for supplies they can probably no longer afford to get a real feeling for how this bloody never-ending drought is crippling their livelihoods and leading them to talk thoughts of suicide.

Bourke: Drought? It’s been raining for days and I barely made it to the newsroom today because the roads are flooded. The whole shire is. I was soaked to the bone just getting from my car to the paper’s front door.

Editor: Yes, sure. There’s been a drop of two of late. The occasional passing shower. But I really need you to paint as graphic a picture as possible of how our region is suffering. The pollies need to be made aware of our parlus position.

Bourke: Parlous, with an “ous” at the end.

Editor: Whatever! So are you up to the task, girlie?

Bourke: There’ll be no need to head out with my large umbrella, extra heavy raincoat with hood and galoshes?

Editor: No need for the fancy words out here, love. Gumboots is what us locals use.

Bourke: Sorry. So it’s all choking red dust, dead stock, dying crops, desperation and despair?

Editor: Exactly! Go you good thing! We all knew you had the makings of a very fine journalist. What’s the M stand for, by the way?

Bourke: Menzies. My mum and dad were big fans.

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