UP-AND-COMERS

Jordyn Rudd

Television producer/reporter TVNZ

How did you get into TV? What sparked your interest in getting into the industry?

I’ve always loved news and writing so there was never a plan B when I was going to university – Communications was it. Back at intermediate we did a Newspaper Day, where the teacher turned our classroom into a newsroom and fed us information throughout the day to put together a story. I remember that day so vividly and knew from then it was an industry I wanted to be in. I did a Bachelor of Communications at AUT, majoring in journalism and minoring in TV. While I was studying I started writing stories for 1 News online, which led onto a producing opportunity at Breakfast.

How did you go from being behind the camera to in front of it?

I manage all Breakfast’s social media platforms and also produce content for the show, which use to involve setting up a daily entertainment news segment for a regular radio host to come on and present. One week she was away so I asked my amazing and far-too-trusting boss Jonathan Williams if I could give presenting a crack. To my utter shock he said yes – an answer I hadn’t prepared for. I did some training (with Hilary Barry, life goal = check) then was plonked in front of the camera for the scariest moment of my life. I now present daily social media and showbiz news segments throughout the morning on Breakfast and I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had.

What’s your favourite piece of work so far?

I went to South Korea to check out Cirque Du Soleil’s show ‘Kooza’, which came to Auckland in February. It was the first story I’d ever done – so doing that overseas was daunting. It was a whirlwind but I got to spend three days with the amazing Cirque Du Soleil crew, experience a snowy South Korean winter, and put together a series of stories I’m really proud of. I also did the splits on air without actually splitting my pants so that was an achievement in itself.

“I’ve always loved news and writing so there was never a plan B when I was going to university-Communications was it.”

What’s been the most challenging thing you’ve had to deal with in your role?

The early starts on definitely aren’t for the faint-hearted. I’m a morning person but 3am is a whole new level of early. Imagine