Luke Sela Explained

Luke Clement Sela, OBE (died 6 June 2007) was a journalist and newspaper editor from Papua New Guinea. He served as editor of the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier newspaper, one of PNG's largest publications, from 1978 to 1992, and was described by the newspaper as a champion of the free press in the country.[1]

Career

Sela worked in the Papua information services in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a journalist at the radio stations Radio Wewak and ABC Australia. He joined the staff of the Post-Courier in 1976 and became the editor in 1978,[2] the newspaper's first national editor. He remained editor until 1992,[3] and retired in 2000,[2] but continued to work with the Post-Courier after his retirement. He was preparing to help coordinate the newspaper's coverage of the 2007 elections in PNG's island regions at the time of his death.[2]

Personal life

Sela was married to Nia; they had two children.[2]

Sela died on 6 June 2007, at Lorengau General Hospital in his home province of Manus, at the age of 64.[2]

Awards and honours

He was awarded the OBE in 1986 for services to journalism.[4] In 2000, the headquarters of the Post-Courier was named Sela Haus in his honour. In 2020, he was the subject of a commemorative stamp.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 50 Years of Nation Building - Post Courier . PostPNG . 2020 . 27 October 2021 .
  2. News: Former PNG news editor Luke Sela dies. . 7 June 2007 . 2 July 2007.
  3. Web site: Luke Sela: rock of PNG journalism . PNG Attitude . 8 June 2007 . 27 October 2021.
  4. News: O.B.E.. The London Gazette. 31 December 1986 . 48.
  5. News: PNG's oldest daily, Post-Courier, celebrates a half century . Melisha Yafoi . PNG Post Courier . 2 July 2020 . 27 October 2021 .
  6. Web site: Luke Sela, First Editor of Post-Courier - Papua and New Guinea 2020 - 3.45 . Stamp-Store . 27 October 2021 .