Cultural Studies Student Named 2018 CBC Radio Gzowski Intern
Zara Syed credits Trent experience and Trent Radio with equipping her with skills (and passion) to pursue competitive internship opportunity
This year’s recipient of the prestigious CBC Radio Gzowski Internship says journalism isn’t the career path she was expecting to follow, but now that she’s discovered it “there’s no going back.”
“Without Trent I feel as though I would not have had the same opportunities to discover myself,” says Zara Syed. “I'm very passionate about Trent and the Cultural Studies program because it has helped shaped who I am, and words cannot express how important opportunities like this internship are…working at CBC is a dream.”
Ms. Syed is one of four university students who will have the opportunity to take part in the chance-of-a-lifetime internship this summer.
Talking about her love of radio, she says:
“I credit Trent Radio for introducing me to my love of being on the air. Five years ago, the editors at Arthur Newspaper and I created a radio show. The show was a lot of fun, and I have since gone on to have shows on topics that range from music to politics. I’m also co-hosting Radio-Free Arthur, Arthur’s weekly radio show during my two-year editorship at the newspaper.”
Ms. Syed also credits her passion for radio to her grandmother, who was a radio personality in Pakistan in the 60s.
“Having an international perspective on the medium has given me an understanding of how significant an impact radio can have in remote regions across the world.”
Ms. Syed, who is graduating with a degree in Cultural Studies with a specialization in Writing and Narrative and a minor in English Literature, also sits on the board for Peterborough Independent Podcasters, an organization founded by 2015 Trent University Gzowski intern, Ayesha Barmania.
Created to honour the memory of CBC Radio personality Peter Gzowski – sometimes called Captain Canada – who died in 2002, the competitive internship is offered to students at four universities across the country, including Trent. Students are selected to complete placements in CBC offices across the country from May to August every year where they will have the opportunity to learn how to create great radio. Learn more about the Gzowski Internship.