‘Journalism – voice of people’

UNIVERSITY student Marlendah Geary says journalism is not only about telling people what is happening around them.
“It’s more than that – it’s about being the voice to the voiceless and participating in bringing change into the society,” she said.
Geary said she learnt this from her childhood role model, a renowned local television journalist Scott Waide while training with his news team in Lae.
Geary is a final year arts and humanities student at the Pacific Adventist University (PAU) in the National Capital District, majoring in English and history.
“I’ve always wanted to be a journalist and to work with Scott Waide one day,” she said.
Geary, of Central and Morobe heritage, is the elder of two children, and grew up in Gabutu, Port Moresby. She attended the nearby Sevese Morea Primary school and then Kilakila Secondary School before going to PAU in 2017.
“I made up my mind to go to Lae in my final year and be trained by Scott Waide because I liked how he is outspoken about issues in the country,” she said.
Geary recently spent five weeks training at the television news outlet in Lae which Waide overseas.
She described it as the best part of her learning experience.
“I did learn a lot more on field than in school,” she said.
“I learnt camera work, how to put together a news script, how to edit and package a film.
“Many who passed through this course I’m taking have landed jobs as public relations or community development officers.
“I will return to mainstream media and impact change in the society through this platform.”

Marlendah Geary (with camera) and University of Technology student trainee
Amy Buibui. Both were attached with EMTV for work experience.
– Picture supplied