THE QUADRANGLE Alex goes global
Once upon a time Old Boy Alex Baird (13218) was going to be a lawyer, but along the way journalism intervened and the 28-year-old is now based in Doha, Qatar, working for major global news network Al Jazeera.
At College in June to speak to students about his exciting occupation, Alex was taking a break from packing his suitcase for the Middle East. He had just been hired by Al Jazeera and was looking forward to starting his first shift two hours after he landed in Qatar on 1 July. “I know it’s going to be about 50 degrees, and I know it’s going to be very different from reporting for TV3 and Newshub, but I can’t wait.” If you want predictability, or the corporate life, journalism won’t deliver, he told the boys. “But if you want to be certain that no two days are going to be the same, and to be challenged to
learn quickly, thrown in the deep end often, and to come up with the story regardless, then maybe journalism’s for you.” The son and grandson of Old Boys and with brother Rohan in Year 12, Alex was at College from 2004–2008, and fully expected to complete a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Canterbury. His plans went awry, however, when he found he didn’t enjoy the subject, and he dropped law in favour of sticking with history and classics. He completed his BA(Hons) in History in 2012, and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism in 2013. “By the time I’d completed my third year at university, I knew what I wanted to do. I realised I
loved talking to people and I didn’t have to pigeonhole myself in any particular area if I followed my interest in journalism.” First job out was in the newsroom at Radio Live, Auckland, reading the news and hosting talkback radio soon followed. By 2016, after moving to Wellington, Alex was working in television reporting for the 6pm news. Then, ready for another change, a few months ago Alex sent an email to Al Jazeera asking about possible jobs – and landed one. “I just decided I wanted to do something different and that news network, sited where it is, has always been fascinating to me.
Christ’s College Canterbury
94
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker