Antoni Nerestant published copy in The Suburban while enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
Antoni Nerestant, BA 13, GrDip 15, is a researcher for the current affairs program that populates the airwaves every weekday in Montreal.
“I try to find compelling guests and experts, and screen them through pre-show interviews,” says Nerestant, who studied both political science and journalism while pursuing his BA.
The born-and-raised Montrealer also wears his reporter’s cap for the CBC on occasion. Nerestant covers the journalistic spectrum of print, web, radio — even video, with stories such as Canadiens hockey legend Dickie Moore’s funeral.
Which medium of reporting does he prefer? “All of them!” says Nerestant, who joined the CBC as a student intern after beginning Concordia’s Graduate Diploma in Journalism program in 2013.
Nerestant says the Department of Journalism keeps students in the loop when it comes to real-world opportunities in the field — crucial experience in a competitive industry. While a student, Nerestant filed copy with The Suburban — the largest English-language weekly newspaper in Quebec.
Among Nerestant’s stories are “Buying and selling used textbooks on the go,” which features the business venture of fellow Concordia graduate Matthew Bruna, BComm 10.
“I see myself with the CBC for a while to come,” says Nerestant, who signed a researcher contract with Homerun in 2015.
Financial support adds balance
For Nerestant, the Enn Raudsepp Scholarship he received upon entering the Department of Journalism was a vote of confidence.
“It affirmed that I was doing great work and showed promise,” he says. “There’s something motivating about that. It gave me an edge.” The scholarship also helped Nerestant balance the scales financially.
“Any type of support helps as a student. Between work and classes, it’s easy to be spread too thin,” he says.
The Enn Raudsepp Scholarship bears the name of a Concordia distinguished professor emeritus and former director of the Department of Journalism. Raudsepp was a mainstay from the department’s founding in 1975 up until his retirement in 2008.
