Reporting for duty: The Australian Class of 2020

Seven budding young reporters have walked into The Australian’s Holt Street headquarters to begin their careers.

Cadets, from left, David Ross, Angelica Snowden, Max Maddison, Imogen Reid, Simon Orchard, Adeshola Ore, and Lachlan Moffet Gray. Picture: Jane Dempster

Seven budding young reporters have walked into The Australian’s Holt Street headquarters to begin their careers as part of the national daily’s largest single ­investment in journalism.

The cadetship intake features reporters from all corners of the country, with each bringing vastly different experiences that helped them land the coveted roles at The Australian.

Editor-in-chief of The Australian, Christopher Dore, who started his career as a cadet at the newspaper, welcomed the group on their first day, saying the ­opportunity to begin their careers at the nation’s leading news ­organisation was an exceptional opportunity. “Many of the best journalists in the country, and many who have gone on to edit newspapers here and around the world, run TV stations, including the ABC, have all either started their careers here or have learnt their trade here,” he said.

David Ross, Angelica Snowden and Adeshola Ore have joined The Australian from Melbourne, while Simon Orchard hails from Perth. Sydneysiders Max Maddison, Lachlan Moffet Gray and Imogen Reid were also part of the group chosen from a national search.

Each has experience in the media. Ross has been freelancing across a number of outlets, ­including Business Insider, Schwartz Media and news.com.au. Ross has also worked as a journalist at Myanmar Business Today.

“The Australian has made a big investment in our future, and I’m excited to be able to make a big investment in The Australian’s future,” Ross said. Snowden joins after a stint as a junior at The Herald Sun. “I’m really excited to be part of a national paper that takes on global issues and makes them Australian,” Snowden said.

Ore has worked at Thomson Reuters Foundation and Business Advantage International, as well as in London as a reporter and producer for BBC World Service London — The Newsroom and World Business Report. “The Australian has this very strong reputation of investigative and original story telling and I’m ­really excited to join as a cadet.”

Orchard, a former Australian Olympic hockey player, has ­extensive media experience in WA. Maddison, who has a bachelor of politics, economics and ­social sciences, has been promoted after four years as The Australian’s editorial assistant.

Reid has worked at news.com.au. “I can’t wait to be a part of the story that has shaped Australia and I’m excited to be part of the new Australian narrative,” Reid said.

Moffet Gray is currently studying a bachelor of laws and communication (journalism) while working for KPMG Newsroom Communications. He previously worked at 2SER 107.3FM as a breakfast radio producer.