Build-up to World News Day
SHAHANI MALA: LIVING HER DREAM
In the lead up to World News Day on the 28th of September, we are featuring some of our own and the work that they do.
Sacrifice and determination basically sums up those who work for us. It’s not for the fainthearted.
Today, we feature Shahani Mala.
ABOUT SHAHANI MALA:
She joined the Fiji Sun on May 15, 2015, from the Fiji National University’s journalism programme. In 2017, she left for India to further her studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune. This was part of a continuing partnership between the Fiji Sun and Indian High Commission.
She rejoined the Fiji Sun newsroom on February 13, 2021, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Savitribai Phule Pune, one of India’s major universities. She achieved this with first class distinction. She also achieved diplomas and certificates across a range of disciplines.
Why are you passionate about journalism?
I am passionate about journalism because I have wanted to become a journalist since my childhood.
When I was young, I used to watch the news with my grandparents every day and I was inspired by how journalists would go through obstacles to collect news.
I am glad that I have fulfilled my dream of becoming a journalist and I am proud to be part of Fiji Sun.
What story/photograph are you proudest of and Why?
I remember just weeks after starting at the Fiji Sun, in 2015, I was assigned a story that I thought was trivial.
However, to my amazement as I dug into the story further and it was not one to be taken lightly.
I can still remember it was a Page 1 story and it was titled “Girl 9, Victim of Sex Attack”.
It was of a primary school girl who was dragged and raped in a bush in Nakasi.
Over the next two weeks, I followed up on the story by writing a series which became literally the talk of the town.
So much so, that people even mistook me for being the victim because that series ran on the front page with my photo byline. Of course, as a news organisation, we have a code of conduct to protect victims of such cases, so we obviously didn’t publish her photo.
Writing that series was like stepping into a whole new world for me.
Basically, I went out of my comfort zone but it was also a nightmare for me.
For a month I could not sleep well and only thinking about the pain this young girl had gone through. On the other hand, I am happy that with the series of articles I wrote on this issue had reached out to many people and many people came forward to help the girl and her family.
Why is journalism important?
Journalism is important because journalists have the power to influence public perceptions, telling the truth and make sure people’s voices are heard.