Michael Otto (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Otto (born 1964) is a New Zealand
engineer, public relations adviser and journalist. As a senior journalist, he has specialised in religious journalism.
where he was educated at St Peter's College
(1973–1981). He was dux
of that school in 1981
in 1990. He then worked as an engineer at New Zealand Steel
in Glenbrook
, Auckland and PDL Electronics, Napier. In the 1990s Otto studied at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
, completing a Bachelor of Theology degree at Otago University and receiving the University Bookshop Prize in Theology in 1996. He returned to engineering for a period but then retrained as a journalist, completing a graduate diploma in journalism at Auckland University of Technology
in 2003, finishing top of his class. He was awarded the prize for outstanding Graduate in the Graduate Diploma of Journalism course.
. Joining the NZ Catholic newspaper in 2008, he is the senior journalist on that newspaper. He has said: "There can be a certain tension between news values and Christian values, but at NZ Catholic my role is to work within that tension fruitfully for the good of our church and nation". He sees the Catholic community as his "own community".
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
engineer, public relations adviser and journalist. As a senior journalist, he has specialised in religious journalism.
Early life
Otto spent his childhood in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
where he was educated at St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
(1973–1981). He was dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of that school in 1981
Career
Otto trained first as an electrical engineer obtaining a Ph.D in that subject from the University of AucklandUniversity of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
in 1990. He then worked as an engineer at New Zealand Steel
New Zealand Steel
New Zealand Steel is a large steel mill located at Glenbrook, New Zealand. It uses a unique method of producing steel from ironsand, abundant on the west coast of the North Island...
in Glenbrook
Glenbrook
Glenbrook is the name of several places:Ireland*Glenbrook, County Cork, a small area in County Cork on the southeast tip of IrelandCanada*Glenbrook, Calgary, a neighbourhood in AlbertaUnited States*Glenbrook, California...
, Auckland and PDL Electronics, Napier. In the 1990s Otto studied at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.-Establishment:...
, completing a Bachelor of Theology degree at Otago University and receiving the University Bookshop Prize in Theology in 1996. He returned to engineering for a period but then retrained as a journalist, completing a graduate diploma in journalism at Auckland University of Technology
Auckland University of Technology
The Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand. It was formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. Its primary campus is on Wellesley Street in Auckland's Central business district...
in 2003, finishing top of his class. He was awarded the prize for outstanding Graduate in the Graduate Diploma of Journalism course.
Journalism
Otto commenced his journalism as a reporter for four years on the Manukau Courier in South Auckland, initially covering health and welfare issues, before becoming involved in local government issues. He was an Engineering , Printing and Manufacturing Union delegate and was a member of that union's media industry council. He then worked as communications adviser for the Mayor of Manukau City, Len BrownLen Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
. Joining the NZ Catholic newspaper in 2008, he is the senior journalist on that newspaper. He has said: "There can be a certain tension between news values and Christian values, but at NZ Catholic my role is to work within that tension fruitfully for the good of our church and nation". He sees the Catholic community as his "own community".