As a reporter for Network 10 on the Gold Coast, each workday brings a new adventure on the general news beat for Jacob Chicco.

“Being a news reporter for TV, the learning never stops,” he says.

“Last week I went to meet Cliff Curtis about the upcoming movie on Jessica Watson, the next day I was at the border speaking to the police superintendent and local businesses who are doing it tough. This just highlights how different the days can be.”

Initially Jacob wanted to be a sports reporter, but after taking his first general news job in Townsville he was hooked on the variety.

He also fell in love with meeting people from all walks of life and telling their stories; the good, the bad and the in between. There have been a few particularly memorable ones that have stuck with Jacob in recent times.

“There was a difficult story from a place called Alva Beach in Townsville where two people were stabbed, and I’ve never forgotten the process of gathering information from the families who had just lost loved ones,” says Jacob.

“But there has also very been uplifting ones, like when I recently visited Musgrave Hill State School. They put on a superhero day to raise funds for brain cancer research in support of one of their students who had been diagnosed with cancer. It really highlighted how people can unite for a really good cause.”

In the current climate, Jacob believes the industry is crying out for more eager reporters who aren’t afraid or unwilling to tell the stories that matter. He encourages anyone who might be thinking about a career in journalism to give it a go.

“Right now there’s never been a more important time to gather news and to share important information with others,” he says.

“If there’s people out there who are passionate about doing that, they can really make a difference.”