Macleans College student named runner-up in national media challenge
Posted on October 20, 2026
Nicholas Klein (Mansfield House) has earned national recognition for his thought-provoking exploration of generative AI, taking runner-up in the Geoff Lealand Student Challenge.
His video entry combined humour, creativity and critical thinking to examine whether AI should have a role in creating media content.
The annual competition is run by the Better Public Media Trust and invites students to create a piece of media in response to a topical question. This year's prompt was: AI in media: should we use generative AI to create content?
Nicholas took a creative approach to the topic, featuring an interview with ChatGPT, before exploring the wider issues in a thoughtful monologue. Delivered with sustained passion and occasional rage, the video considered the complexities of generative AI while presenting a clear moral stance.
The judges described the entry as well-argued, clever, hilarious and ironic. They praised the thought behind the piece, as well as Nicholas's use of humour and ability to address a complex issue while maintaining a strong moral position.
