Kavita Bedford, Freelance Writer | Chile

Kristin Killian:

KB: I have always been interested in the way art shapes, informs and reacts to political movements. These interests have led me to a diverse career path – one that doesn't always seem direct and that is still very much in the process of being shaped.

My background is in journalism, theatre, politics and all of these came together with a new interest in Latin America though the year I spent there working in journalism and travelling in 2008. My current day job is working for an Australian performing arts publisher, Currency Press, which keeps me immersed in new Australian works and in my spare time I contribute freelance to online outlets – Australian and International and try to be involved in current debates.

KK: What types of media do you use in your work?

KB: Online journals, publications, newspapers and magazines, street press, streaming film on websites.

KK: How has online journalism played a role in your career?

KB: Being far away in Australia, online forums and outlets have opened up a wide community for me from all over the world, which is invaluable. Online journalism provides a wide source of shared information, opens a global exchange and can pave the way for a greater understanding of different belief structures and perspectives. I have been able to keep in correspondence with other collaborators I met whilst overseas, exchange ideas and have access to their works.

KK: Have you experienced any gender bias(es) in your career?

KB: That is a hard question to answer as I have no scope for comparison—I don't know what opportunities may have been awarded to me if I were a man— but saying that I don't feel I have ever been persecuted as a result of my gender.

KK: How have international experiences impacted your career?

KB: My year in Latin America alone has informed a huge part of my successive interests. It ignited a longstanding passionate interest in the region, has led me to pursue studies in the area and also a thirst to engage with the world outside of Australia. I have been very lucky in being able to spend time in India, South America, Turkey and Europe -- which have all given a strong sense of other cultural understandings which are very important for journalists, writers, people in the media or anyone really.

It has also led me to a greater comparative understanding of the Australian character and led me to reflect a lot on our past. The lack of voice that our Indigenous people have here is a huge issue and so is the ever-continuous stream of displaced refugees who seek asylum and are rejected -– this is an issue  affecting us on a global scale.

Sydney, where I have grown up, is also a place comprised of many ethnic groups. I come from an ethnically mixed family and the majority of my friends and colleagues are second-generation Australians, so having a stronger sense of where people have come from informs my interests and the shape my career will take.

KK: What do you think are differences in journalism between Australia and the United States?

KB: In the States in some media outlets, I believe there is a recognition that journalism is part of a wider study that embraces an understanding of history, politics, culture, science, literature, economics, modern society and moral philosophy that is sometimes harder to come across in the Australian media. A tendency to sensationalise exists in both countries but you can definitely see that we copy the American model in that way.

Many of the online Australian media outlets also employ humour to discuss issues, which is a very Australian characteristic and can be quite a refreshing and open way of dealing with politics and social issues.

KK: How do you balance your career and your personal life?

KB: Not always very successfully! Writing freelance means there often isn't someone to be accountable to which requires self-discipline. It's also about organising priorities – as I also have a career in publishing, finding a way to set aside time can be difficult and something I am trying to find a balance with more this year.

KK: Can you describe your typical day workday?

KB: I haven't really had a 'typical' workday as a lot of my work has come from a result of being on the road travelling or whilst studying. But in the past year I have worked 9.30-5.30 five days a week and try and set aside evenings and Saturday mornings to explore my own writing and involvement with other projects.

KK: What led you to Latin America?

KB: Initially I just wanted to travel—engage with the music, art and Spanish. I then found ways to combine my interest in performance and art with political history by investigating the ways in which different art practices had help shape resistance throughout Latin America. This was possible through a fantastic opportunity working as a journalist for the Santiago Times and cultural affairs reporter for the online Revolver guide.

KK: What has been your greatest obstacle as an international journalist in Latin America?

KB: A lot of the issues that many people must face being in a different country and working as a journalist:
- The language barrier – and learning Chilean slang, which is a whole different Spanish! As a result I often needed to go through interpreters, which changes the understanding.

- An understanding of a cultural identity and finding the right ways to approach an issue
- Trying to be an authority on an issue that is so steeped in a complex, long history and give an accurate portrayal.

KK: What are some career goals you have for the future?

KB: In future work, one of the issues I wish to examine more is the use of political performance in Latin America — whether by reactionary groups, the state or professional practitioners — as examples of how art has challenged or supported structures of power.
- I hope to complete further studies in a Master's and gain a stronger knowledge in Humanitarian law, Anthropology and Latin American history.
- I also hope to be part of more collaborative discussions about politics, Australian perspectives and global issues that affect us all and contribute widely.

Kavita Bedford Biography: 

Kavita Bedford is an Australian freelance writer. Her journey as an international journalist has led her to Latin America. Recently she has been living in Chile, exploring the politics and arts of the region. While there, she has worked for the Chilean publications Santiago Times and Revolver. Bedford attended Charles Sturt University in Australia from 2004-2007, where she received a degree in journalism. She has also studied both politics and theatre. Bedford also assisted the Islamic Relations Forum, which promotes a public discourse on representation of Muslim in Australian media and cross-cultural debate. Publications include The Canberra Times and Realtime, Australia's guide to international contemporary arts where Bedford interned. She is also an active member of the Sydney Spanish Language Group, an online teaching and cultural organization that allows for practicing of the Spanish language through the exchanges of cultural experiences. Bedford won the Short Story Competition at the Waverley Words Literary Festival 2009 for her article The Surprise, about a man with dementia.

Kristin Killian Autobiography: 

Kristin Killian, 22, is a senior at The University of Iowa. Killian is currently majoring in journalism and mass communication and Spanish. She was born and raised in Des Moines, IA. She attended Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, IA. During her four years there, she was a member of the girls' swim team as well as editor of the newspaper, The Maroon Tribune. She volunteered as a coach for Special Olympics Swimming and spent her summers teaching swim lessons. Today, swimming is still her number one hobby. Killian decided to attend The University of Iowa and declared her major as journalism and mass communication. Currently, she is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Fraternity. She is currently the Community Relations Coordinator for a restaurant in the Iowa City area and an intern for the nonprofit organization, I Can Read, www.icanreadsong.org. Past work experience includes her internship with the Iowa Cubs baseball franchise as well as working with the Alzheimer's Association planning their campus event. Killian graduates this May and is excited to enter the ever-changing field of journalism, which she hopes will continue to work towards fairness.