Luke Sela

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] [2]}

Career

Sela worked in the Papua information services in the 1960s and 1970s. ^[1] He was a journalist at the radio stations Radio Wewak and ABC Australia. ^[3] He joined the staff of the Post-Courier in 1976 and became the editor in 1978, ^[1] the newspaper's first national editor. ^[3] He remained editor until 1992, ^[4] and retired in 2000, ^[1] 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. ^[1]

Personal life

Sela was married to Nia; they had two children. ^[1]

Sela died on 6 June 2007, at Lorengau General Hospital in his home province of Manus, at the age of 64. ^[1]

Awards and honours

He was awarded the OBE in 1986 for services to journalism. ^[5] In 2000, the headquarters of the Post-Courier was named Sela Haus in his honour. ^[2] In 2020, he was the subject of a commemorative stamp. ^{[3] [6]}

References

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