Portrait of Bathsheba Sanau in Papua New Guinea: professionalism and humility
Bathsheba Sanau, 32, is head of transport and industry at NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation) in Papua New Guinea. She is still keen to learn and pass on new knowledge about the environment to her community.
From the blackboard to the small screen.
At primary school, when our teacher asked us what we wanted to do for a living, I answered without hesitation: "like you, educate children, because they are the future of our country!" Then, at high school, I started watching the news every night on the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). From then on, I wanted to deliver the news to the whole country, recalls Bathsheba Sanau, 32, who became a journalist at the same NBC in Papua New Guinea.
Nathan, her elder brother, remembers her passionate beginnings: Every evening, when the news was on, she used to imitate the presenter! So we're not surprised that she's made her dream come true today! Before that, she did internships during her BA in Communication Arts at Divine Word University: ten weeks at a commercial radio station (Kalang Advertising) and, of course, at NBC: On the first day, I shook hands with senior journalists I used to watch sitting in front of the TV. I said to them: “I'm a fan, I want to be just like you!” They made me feel very welcome, took me along on news reports and showed me how to present the news.
Now head of general news at NBC, Lyanne Togiba took this promising journalist “under her wing” back in 2016: She was already very keen to learn, always asking others for help when she wasn't sure about something. Even today, she is still very modest, even though she has become head of the transport and industry department. Ever the professional, her superiors can rely on her. She is always willing to cover for absent colleagues. Versatile in radio, TV and our online platforms, she works closely with the whole team and will no doubt play a supervisory role for our editorial team in the future.
Educating the public
Her colleague Stella Martin also appreciates Bathsheba’s “very open nature”: She has a very good relationship with all of us, her colleagues. Passionate about her work, she speaks in particular about climate change and how it affects our local communities. Quick and efficient, she has started using the artificial intelligence tools seen during Terra Asia's highly interactive training courses for her documentary research.
This CFI project thus represents an opportunity for Bathsheba Sanau: During the training courses, we learned how to use the internet and satellite images. It was a chance to discuss our coverage of the impacts of climate change with journalists from other countries.
It's enough to give the journalist ideas: We have to broadcast information without waiting for the evening news, provide in-depth coverage on our website and also have a presence on social networks. There is a real need for our media outlets to have specialist reporters on the environment.
While waiting for this autonomous desk project to become a reality at NBC, Bathsheba is working tirelessly on educating the public on how to protect the environment for future generations. Nathan is proud of his little sister, who has become a messenger, a conductor of knowledge: Honest, kind and patient, she is respected in our community. Passionate and keen to talk about issues that matter to people, she always brings us up to date with the latest information on climate change and the environmental damage that is affecting us all.
Portrait created by Emmanuel de Solère Stintzy (Journalistes Médiateurs)