Voice for the voiceless

MEDIA

By ALPHONSE BARIASI
THE news article in a 2019 issue of The National merely stated that any move to legalise prostitution would need extensive research and consultation.
Journalist Rebecca Kuku wrote the story based on remarks by Community Development, Youth and Religion Secretary Anna Bais.
Solomon’s comments stemmed from an earlier story of a prostitute in The National’s Weekender detailing how life circumstances had forced a young woman into the sex trade.
“We will have to see the pros and cons of what it will mean if we work towards legalising it in the country but for the moment, the country isn’t really ready for it,” the secretary was reported saying then.
But all of that was lost in a torrent of outrage in social media. And it went so far as to label both the journalist and the secretary.
The secretary was not impressed at all and made that abundantly clear to the journalist.
Things took a turn for the better over the rest of the year as Rebecca wrote about more women who were forced into prostitution, and others who endured or opted out of problematic relations.
Last Thursday Secretary Bais commended Rebecca for her reporting.
The Kerema lady won the Outstanding Reporting for 2019 – Secretary’s Choice award. The National’s other journalists Elias Lari and Majorie Finkeo also won awards from the department.
The secretary made the following citation for Rebecca’s award: “One of the stories that was covered was actually very negative. And it created a whole lot of excitement, so much excitement. When we looked at the original story it wasn’t that bad.

“ I want to be the voice for the voiceless, bringing attention to social issues affecting families, homes, villages and just about every walk of life.”

“I’ve read a number of stories by this same person. I see how she tried to give us coverage…on Lukautim Pikinini Act and on many stories. For me it was somebody who was a real reporter, a fearless reporter.”
Rebecca describes herself as a bookworm who caught the writer’s bug while still a child.
She completed high school at Badihagwa in NCD in 2006 and attended Sogeri National High School from 2007 to 2008.
“Sogeri was my dad’s old school and was my dream school.”
Her journalism training at UPNG was cut short by a semester because she withdrew to give birth to her first son Threstan.
She plans to go back someday and complete her studies

She first joined The National in November 2014 but left a year later to try public relations, grew bored, resigned after six months and returned to The National.
She had to resign again to accompany her now ex-husband to the Southern Highlands. But she had to return a third time last January after walking away from a violent marriage and returned to Port Moresby.
She writes sometimes from her own experiences.
“I have been there, I know what it’s like, and I know how hard it is to actually be brave enough to reach out for help or to just walk away from it all.
“And I hope that by writing about them, these issues can become everyday topics so that other women won’t have to feel ashamed to reach out for help or to walk away from issues affecting their lives.
“I was in a violent relationship. So I thought to myself, if this is what I went through, and I’m able to get out because of the contacts I’ve built over the years in mainstream media, how many others are suffering worse than I am and have no way out,” Rebecca says.
“I want to be the voice for the voiceless, bringing attention to social issues affecting families, homes, villages and just about every walk of life.”
Rebecca also runs a collection of her stories on Facebook.
“Since returning to Port Moresby last year, I’ve started writing about social issues during my free time, and over time I created a page on Facebook called Becky’s World where I share the stories I write, and just about everything that comes to mind.
“The page so far has over 4,000 followers and likes. So basically, I created the page to get more people to start talking about social issues.
“Secretary Anna Bais was actually very angry with me when it (the prostitution story) first came out, but we got past that.
“If you’ve read my stories on Becky’s World or in Weekender, there was one about a prostitute who actually sold herself to save her mom.

Change of perspective
“And that one interview changed my whole perspective on prostitution. The fact is prostitution is here to stay, it’s been here for thousands of years and is one the oldest professions in history.
We can never be able to get rid of it but what we can do as a society is put in place laws to regulate it. These women go out every day, putting their lives at risk, selling their bodies. Yes it is wrong, but many of us don’t know why they do it. They have their reasons; the least we can do is ensure that they can be protected whilst doing their trade, like all other trades.
About journalists and journalism she has this to say: “We don’t want to be loved, liked or honoured for our role in society but a simple recognition can really make it worthwhile, even the unpaid overtime and long hours do not matter.
“You see we don’t need to mention the tough circumstances because it is what it is in the mainstream media, despite the challenges, difficulties, and almost harsh realities of seeking the truth, we continue to do so because we love our job, and will continue to be the voice for the people.”
Rebecca is eternally grateful to the Kuku family for their continuous support, especially her mum who takes care of her kids and gives her time to pursue her dreams and to report.
She thanks The National’s general manager Andy Ng for giving her a third chance to pursue her career.
“I’m also thankful to my second family at the ‘Big Red House’, to chief Christine Pakakota and news editor Gynnie Kero, for always being there for me and all the other reporters.”
Reporting for Rebecca is a passion, and her dream job since she was a kid.
“I was the odd child in the family, who loved to watch EMTV News with presenter Scott Waide, A Current Affairs with Ray Martin and 60 Minutes with Liz Hurley.
“I was a book worm so yes, I now cover politics and security – police, defence and correctional services.
“But I also write about social issues whenever I have free time.”
Rebecca’s ability to listen to those suffering from violence, injustice or stigma, and giving them a voice has won her due recognition.