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Luke Sela

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Former PNG news editor Luke Sela dies". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b "50 Years of Nation Building - Post Courier". PostPNG. 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c 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.