This collaborative research project began in 2012 between two academics from two regional Queensland universities. This is year 2 data. In the first year, both researchers conducted a survey among incoming first year Journalism students to find out these students' background, as well as set a benchmark of their attitudes and perceptions about the university experience, their views and perceptions of the journalism profession and their aspirations. The initial research yielded a unique profile of these students who have decided on a journalism education. In 2013, the same cohort of students were resurveyed to track changes, if any, in their responses to the same questions in 2012. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted to provide qualitative data to explain the data. In year three of the research, the cohort was once again surveyed and interviewed as they leave university. This study offers a unique longitudinal view of the development of a student into a journalist as well as track any changes in the student's attitudes and perceptions about journalism as a chosen profession
