Meet the team – David McManus Jr

How long have you been with DPS? 

I’ve been with DPS since March and I have been absolutely enthralled by the passion, effort and affinity I share for delivering news alongside an awe-inspiring team of bright minds. The editorial team at DPS truly put the ‘lit’ in literate.

What is your role?   

Ah, y’know, a bit of this and a bit of that. In general, my duties and responsibilities are incredibly fulfilling, through giving a voice to the voiceless and listening to the lives of others. I graduated from the University of South Australia in 2020 with an undergraduate degree in journalism, then occupied a bunch of formative roles to help me gain some experience. I decided to discontinue my postgraduate studies and thankfully found one of the most exciting jobs around.

What are some of the things you’ve learnt in this role at DPS?    

I’ve learnt that people only speak when they’re prompted to and often have illustrious backgrounds in education or astounding achievements kept in the shadows of public perspective. Whether it’s breaking news and an entire industry of journalists scrounging to get information out as quickly as possible or someone that feels unremarkable, but is a wealth of knowledge and interest — every story deserve a second look.

What is the best thing about working for DPS?

Alex Jacobs, Bianca Iovino, Andrew Barbara and Chief Executive Officer Michelle Barbera are among the most diligent, positive and supportive staff I’ve ever met in my eight years of editorial work. I get to make a living doing what I love, making a tangible difference in the world through feedback of my work from the public and I receive all the help I need from those working alongside me.

What is the best thing you have worked on?    

I don’t think there’s a ‘best thing,’ per se, but I recall one interview for Talking Disability, where I had asked a woman how her day was and she seemed confused that I had asked her about her day first, instead of immediately asking her about her condition. To summarise a long and complicated answer, the best thing I have worked on is myself and I continue to improve through learning from others.

What is your greatest achievement?   

My greatest achievement is getting to a point in life where I’m comfortable, passionate and excited for what the future holds. Looking for work is difficult, news is generally grim and the challenges I have faced are not as powerful as the rewarding feeling of sitting alongside my friends at the office.

Which team member would you most like to be stuck on a desert island with and why?

Probably our typesetter, William Butcher, as he’s a resourceful all-rounder and just a pleasant man for an uplifting chat, however, he could probably craft a canoe out of a few twigs based on his strong sense of pragmatism.

Who would play you in your biopic?

I feel like Ryan Gosling often plays characters that remind me of myself in some sense, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, James Gandolfini might work for a David McManus Jr film.

Read our previous Meet the Team profile here. If you want to stay up to date with the latest  news and information about the support sector, sign up for our Talking Disability newsletter.