EDWINA LOVES HER BUSY LIFE
The effusive Sunrise reporter packs a lot into her day, and that’s most definitely the way the determined TV journalist likes it to be Bond University student
EDWINA Bartholomew admits she loves being busy.
Juggling her upcoming wedding, charity fundraisers and a busy work schedule – which kicks off at 2.30am – comes easily to this Channel 7 Sunrise correspondent.
Despite back-to-back work trips to the US and a hectic diary, she didn’t hesitate adding to her workload to speak at the first national Women in Media conference at Bond University this weekend.
“Even though my fiance probably would prefer otherwise, I like to be busy,” she laughs. “I just thrive on always having something on, always taking on new projects and always having a new challenge.
“You just have to say ‘yes’ because 10 years ago I never would have dreamt about the stuff I am doing now. You never know where you’ll end up.”
Edwina is passionate about empowering women, which is why she takes her role as a volunteer committee member of Women in Media NSW so seriously.
“My experience in the media industry has been very positive to date so I have always tried to foster younger women who are following in my footsteps by helping them with any advice and any kind of guidance I can offer. I have been so lucky with great relationships and I think it’s really great to be able to pay that forward.”
With a strict 8pm bed time, regular flights around the country for different stories and her involvement with charity work, it’s difficult to imagine how she even found time to chat with me.
Under the guidance of her mentor, Channel 7 producer David Walters, Edwina has developed an appreciation for the Australian media community. “I think it’s important to have a mentor and I am so lucky David took me under his wing to coach me through the early years.”
Chatting with Edwina, it quickly becomes apparent why she’s been so successful.
Whether it be working her way up from Channel 7’s coffee maker to Sunrise reporter or her razor-sharp answers on any topic we talk about, this journalist is the epitome of focus and determination.
“In the stories that I do people open up their lives to you and share their stories and their experience with you. You have such a responsibility to them to do a good job. It can’t all be cat videos,” she jokes. “I mean we do our fair share of cat videos too.”
But this South Australianborn reporter didn’t always have her heart set on journalism.
“I was considering doing law but during Year 12 one of my good friends had her heart set on doing journalism and did all the research, so I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll go too’. There wasn’t too much thought that went into it to be honest,” she laughs.
“I think journalism is the perfect combination of all the things I loved doing at school.
“I loved drama, English and history. I always had a natural interest and curiosity about the world, which is so very important for the job.”
Since graduating from Charles Sturt University and winning Channel 7’s internship competition, she hasn’t looked back. “I’m so glad I chose journalism as my path.
“Being a journalist just opens doors to such incredible opportunities and experiences.”
This Friday, Edwina will make another step in her commitment to empowering the next generation of female journalists, when she takes to the stage with Channel 7’s Kay McGrath as part of the Women in Media’s Conference at Bond University.