Veteran journalist, Emily Moli was recently awarded a “UK Chevening Scholarship” to study in London.

As she prepares to leave next month, Emily sat down with Fiji Sun Leisure to talk about her upbringing, media journey and her longterm goals.

ONE TO ONE WITH EMILY:
Give a brief summary about yourself?
I was born in Levuka, Ovalau but was brought up in Suva since I was very young.

My late father had multiple genealogical heritage, with blood ties to Vanuatu, as well as German, Kiribati and Rotuman (the family surname Moli is a Vanuatu name).

I am the youngest of four siblings and was mainly raised by my mother’s family who are from Nalotu, Yawe, Kadavu.

I attended Annesley Infant School right through to Dudley High School. I studied for a degree in Journalism and History/Politics and later a Masters in Governance at the University of the South Pacific.

Tell us about the various media organizations that you have worked in I joined the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation in 2000 where I worked with some very brilliant and experienced senior journalists such as Vasiti Waqa, Masimeke Latianara, Samisoni Pareti, Tevita Momoedonu, Matai Akaoula, Rita Narayan and Ioane Burese to name a few.

I later joined Fiji TV to expand my media experience and worked alongside a number of great journalists.

I later joined the Pacific Community (SPC) and was involved in the ‘Pacific Way’ programme under the guidance of Larry Thomas.

It was a great opportunity to be involved in regional projects and using the media to promote regional development and reaching out to people in isolated places around the huge Pacific region.

Five and a half years later, I left SPC to join UN Development Programme (UNDP) where I have been working as a Knowledge and Communication Analyst.

This involves overseeing the sound implementation of Knowledge Management and Communications activities for the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and support UN-wide communications and outreach and facilitation of UN inter-agency knowledge building and knowledge sharing amongst other priorities.

What would be the highlight of your media career and some of the best experiences you’ve had in the radio and TV?

The highlight of my career is working with the UNDP because of its international status and global perspectives in relation to communications and development.

UNDP’s work in the Pacific is dynamic as it deals with governments’, other international agencies, development partners, civil society, private sector and other groups in the community.

This has changed my professional outlook and work ethics in a fundamental way.

My best experiences in the mainstream broadcast media was with FBC and Fiji TV.

This is because I had a chance to meet so many people, write stories about them and in the process, inform the public of what’s happening in a direct way.

In regards to applying for the Chevening Scholarship – what does it mean for you been selected to go and study in London?

I’ve always wanted to undertake a second Masters abroad and be part of a vibrant and stimulating learning environment where I can challenge myself academically.

I specifically chose the UK Chevening Scholarship because it offers awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world.

Chevening provides a unique opportunity for me to develop professionally and academically and I believe the UK has the best internationally recognised media, communications and development programme.

What was the motivation behind applying for the scholarship?

I felt that one of the shortcomings in Fiji and the Pacific is credible and reliable information gathering and dissemination as tools for democratisation and development.

Information is power and using information strategically has the potential to influence people’s thinking and behaviour, culture as well state policies.

With the predominance of social media which often disseminates distorted views, it’s important to have professional communication specialists to take the lead in providing well-researched, professional and credible information to promote development and democracy.

Explain the programme that you will be studying?

I’ll be undertaking a Master of Science in Media, Communication and Development which is an intensive, year-long exploration of a wide range of contemporary issues in media, communications and development.

The course aims to provide an opportunity to critically examine the intersections in the fields of media and communications and development research.

The added bonus is that the programme provides research training for students wishing to go on to PhD research in the media, communication and development field.

The course also enables us to develop a critical understanding of a range of methodological approaches to the study of media and communication in the developing countries.

I have also chosen some Strategic Communications units as an elective.

What do you hope to achieve as you study in the area of Masters in Media, Communication and development at the London School of Economics and Political Science?

In a world of expanding media, managing communications has become a strategic priority.

The question of how to manage communications is now a strategic challenge at the heart of contemporary economy, society and government and addressing the challenge has become ever more important, creating new risks and opportunity for all organisations and institutions, large and small.

The London School of Economics (LSE) is one of the leading research based department in media and communications in the UK and one of the top five in the world.

I’m also excited to study with internationally recognised active researchers with expertise in media and communications and politics and democracy, regulation and policy, technological change, audiences and literacies, globalisation and culture.

What was the feeling like when they contacted you about getting the scholarship?

Were you confident from the start that you would get it?

I was confident but had mixed feelings.

When I received the email from the Chevening Secretariat, there wasn’t a big celebration.

It meant a lot of sacrifice.

There was family and work that I had to relay the news to but I had to wait for the right time.

What are you most looking forward to as you go to study in London?

I look forward to networking extensively and being part of a vibrant and stimulating international community at both LSE and Chevening.

Feedback: mere.satakala@fijisun.com.fj