During the week of 14-18 October (week 12), students have the opportunity to elect editors to the ANU Student Media Board. The link to vote will be emailed to all ANU students on Monday 14 October. All ANU students are eligible to vote. Any questions relating to the election process should be directed to Returning Officer Richelle Hilton at Richelle.Hilton@anu.edu.auThe nominees for each position and their bios are listed here:

Candidates for Managing Editor

1. Joseph Mann
I’ve been a dedicated and hard-working news reporter in the Woroni News team for over a year now. I am deeply passionate about continuing the Board’s amazing work to keep Woroni and community media flourishing and sustainable. I propose building stronger connections with ANU clubs and societies, to expand our equipment hire services and student publication grants. This could include lending out cameras to balls for our Lookbook or other events for a “what happened this week” feature or publishing a “what’s on” feature. I also propose to find new and expanded (but still ethical) sources of revenue for ANUSM and student media and events on campus. This could include seeking grants and endowments from community organisations or opening up Woroni for tax-deductible donations from the public like other non-profit outlets like The Conversation and Overland. Finally, I propose working with our general editors to build stronger connections with local media and arts practitioners to build a stronger professional development stream for our sub-editors. Some of our best moments over the last two years have included working with media organisations for field trips and other Stujo orgs for our recent conference and I wish for this work to continue.

Note: In line with Section 9.2 b) of the ANUSM Electoral Regulations, the ANUSM Board would like to disclose the following Conflicts of Interest for Joseph Mann: Member of the ACT Labor Party; Treasurer of the Canberra North Branch.

2. Paris Chia

I have worked in the Woroni TV team for a year and a half now, in the process growing familiar with the operations of Woroni and student media management. Over the years I have come to understand how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep Woroni running; on a more foundational level than content production, the Managing Editor is vital in ensuring that our funding is utilised in its fullest capacity to allow our teams to deliver quality content to the student body. As Managing Editor, I will dedicate my time to ensuring the financial sustainability of ANU’s Student Media. I understand the workflow, culture and media production values of Woroni, as well as what is logistically required in order to enable such creative endeavours. Following in the footsteps of our previous Managing Editors, I pledge to responsibly manage the business side of Woroni’s operations according to my experience both within Woroni and as a Commerce student currently interning in marketing. My experience producing content in the TV Team has been highly enjoyable, and I would be honoured to join the board as a supporting figure that continues to allow Woroni to flourish.

Candidates for Content Editor

1. Aala Cheema
I have been on the Woroni content team for 2.5 years. I started as a sub-editor and have been serving as a senior sub-editor for 1.5 years. I have extensive experience at Woroni.During my time, I have sourced, edited, and written a plethora of articles in a variety of forms and genres. I believe I am well-equipped to lead the content team. I have learnt from and developed my skills through observing the four content editors I have worked under. My vision for the content team consists of greater outreach for magazine submissions. I want to liaise with the Disabilities, Environment, International students, Queer*, Women’s, Indigenous, BIPOC and Parents and Carers departments to ensure that the content Woroni produces encompasses the diversity of experiences on campus and amplifies minority voices. I also want to encourage students to submit to Woroni outside of the magazine cycles to have their work published online. I want to encourage a diversity of fiction and non-fiction forms, with a particular focus on non-traditional and multi-modal forms. I wish to showcase the work of talented photographers, playwrights, comics, satirists, screenwriters, songwriters, and artists, alongside the exceptional writers that make up the ANU student population.

2. Jaden Ogwayo
I would be thrilled to run for the position of Content Editor for Woroni in 2025. This year, after several months of submitting to the magazine, I joined on as a Content subeditor. Most of my work involves contributing personal essays, articles, and poetry, and, additionally, as a sub-editor, I source pieces from external students to include in the magazine. Ensuring Woroni is composed by students, for students, is at the heart of my approach to being a Content sub-editor, and even before I got the role, I endeavoured to tap several people I knew to contribute to the magazine to continually widen our scope. For instance, in our forthcoming magazine Upside-Down, I managed to source 10 pieces and pitches. Having recently attended the Student Journalism Conference hosted by USyd, and having contributed significantly over the past year to Woroni (with 13 pieces published this year), I’m confident that I’m qualified to be a great Content Editor who already has ideas for themes, pieces, and outreach to increase student consumption and contribution.

Candidates for TV Editor

1. Paris Chia
In the past year and a half, I have worked a variety of roles on the Woroni TV team, on a range of contents including creative and news videos both long-form and short-form. During this time, I have grown and developed alongside many talented and enthusiastic individuals. The diversity of backgrounds, interests and creative minds that collect in the Woroni TV team have shaped me in turn, and I have had the great honour of leading a team of said individuals this semester as Executive Producer. As TV Editor, I wish to focus on developing the technical skills of the team as a guiding presence in achieving their creative visions. Further, I plan to extend the scope of the TV Team’s content by collaborating with other Woroni portfolios, such as with the News Team to presenting relevant and timely campus updates in alternative formats. From where we stand today, I wish to bring Woroni TV further into the fold of ANU student life by connecting directly with our audience through our content. I will lead the Woroni TV team to produce entertaining and informative videos that showcase the value of media in recolouring our lives.

2. Arabella Ritchie
I have served as the Woroni TV Editor for the past year and would absolutely love the opportunity to extend my tenure. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of recruiting and training a talented and dedicated team. I’ve focused on rebuilding the TV portfolio, streamlining our production processes, and maintaining high-quality standards for all our content output. Looking ahead, I’m eager to further amplify Woroni TV’s presence within the ANU community and continue the exciting work we’ve set in motion. I’m excited about the potential to further develop the portfolio. I believe we’re only just beginning to tap into the full potential of what Woroni TV can achieve, and I would love the chance to see that through. Additionally, as a member of the board, I am eager to continue engaging with Woroni’s organisational aspects. Woroni thrives on students’ passion, pouring creativity into every article, video, and radio show. Woroni is more than just a student newspaper – it’s a living, breathing showcase of student talent and imagination. It would be an honour to continue contributing to the growth of this dynamic organisation.

Candidates for Communications Editor

1. Zoe Vaughan
I have had a wonderful time working as Events Officer with Woroni’s Communications Team over this semester, and am now keen to step up and take furthe responsibility as Communications Editor. I am a proactive and organised creative with an unmatched enthusiasm for every project I take on. With an established set of journalistic skills, I intend to lead through a collaborative approach across the board. I want to see the members of the Comms. Team be given the opportunity to showcase their talents, to learn new skills and develop their existing skillsets. I look forward to supporting the Comms. Team in their development as media professionals and engaging with the student body to promote Woroni and ANU’s student media.

2. Benjamin Van Der Niet

I would like to nominate for Communications Editor. I have been a photographer for Woroni for two years, becoming a member of the Communications Team when it began this semester. I am a fifth-year music and engineering student, in the final stages of my Music Honours Degree and have another year of my Engineering studies in aerospace to complete. My participation in Woroni as a photographer has allowed me to develop my photography through attending a wide range of events and taking images for different purposes. In the position, I aim to strengthen the value of the communications team output and experience, in the process developing my knowledge of advertising and managing a social media presence. I have clear ideas for the direction that the team could undertake including increasing the regular posts. I would like to see broader and more in-depth engagement with clubs and societies and specific demographics that would benefit from representation in media, for example, students at the school of music, various engineering clubs including but not limited to the Formula Student (FSAE) team and theatre (beyond the reviews already facilitated). I would like to see more colour and soft news in Woroni’s social media.

Candidates for Art Editor (uncontested)

1. Lee-Francis Evatt
As an Bachelor of Visual Arts student I have noticed the ongoing disconnect between the general university and the ANU School of Art and Design. If I become the Arts Editor for Woroni I would like to seek to close this gap. A simple way of doing this is by being an active participant with in the art community. I have done this by organising art events that are inclusive to all students such as the ANU Film Festival as well as facilitating various art workshops under the Art School Collective. These events seek to connect Visual Art students with the broader community. I believe running occasional events such as art workshops for Woroni would further encourage submission. I love working across visual mediums and see that the visual appearance of Woroni to be core to it’s professional look as a magazine. Additionally I see the importance of the visual aspects of marketing for promoting it and have experience in that field. I am currently learning how to do motion graphics and animation and I believe these skills may boost Woroni’s image.