Lusiana Tuimaisala reporting on the ground during Tropical Cyclone Winston as a journalist, capturing the stories and experiences of communities affected by the devastating cyclone.

After 11 years in journalism, Lusiana Tuimaisala decided it was time to strengthen her knowledge and prepare for new opportunities in her career. In April 2024, she graduated from the Fiji National University (FNU) with a Bachelor of Media and Communication while still working in the newsroom.

Originally from Narukunibua Village in the Province of Namosi, Lusiana is now a Communication Officer at the Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP). Her work involves sharing stories about development, communicating research and policy work, and helping bring community experiences to a wider audience.

“I chose FNU because I wanted to pursue a recognised qualification in media and communication that would strengthen my knowledge and support my professional development,” she said.

Studying while working and managing family responsibilities was not always easy. However, FNU’s flexible learning arrangements, including online classes, recorded lectures and resources on Moodle, helped her keep up with her studies without putting her career on hold.

She also appreciated the support she received from her lecturers.

“Their understanding, patience and willingness to support me, made a real difference in my learning journey,” Lusiana added.

Lusiana Tuimaisala celebrating a proud milestone at her graduation from Fiji National University (FNU), where she earned her Bachelor of Media and Communication in April 2024.

Interestingly, journalism was not Lusiana’s first career choice. She had hoped to become a teacher but changed direction after coming across a vacancy at Fiji Sun News Limited.

“When I was younger, my dream was to become a teacher. I was still pursuing a teaching course at university, when I saw a vacancy at Fiji Sun and decided to give it a try,” she said.

That decision led to an 11-year career in journalism. She worked her way up from Cadet Reporter to Senior Journalist and took on several editorial roles, including Deputy Managing Editor – Publications, Deputy Managing Editor – Business and Editor of Siga Rarama, the newspaper’s vernacular publication. Her final role was at the Sub-Editing Desk.

Over the years, she gained experience in reporting, interviewing, research, writing, editing and publication planning. The work taught her the importance of checking facts, meeting editorial standards and making sure information is reported responsibly.

Her career also gave her opportunities to learn beyond Fiji. In 2018, she was selected for a year-long Asia-Pacific programme of studies coordinated by the China Asia Pacific Press Centre, becoming the first Pacific Islander, to receive the opportunity.

During her time in Beijing, she studied Chinese, attended classes at Renmin University, covered major events, including the Belt and Road trade and development initiative, and completed a work attachment at an English-language financial magazine. The experience gave her a chance to see how journalism was practised in a different setting and broadened her professional outlook.

When Lusiana later decided to pursue her degree at FNU, she already had years of practical experience behind her. Her studies gave her the opportunity to build on that experience, knowledge she now draws on in her communications role at SEEP.

Lusiana Tuimaisala (far left) pictured with her colleagues from SEEP during the Pre-COP31 Climate Summit held in Nadi, Fiji.

Her responsibilities include, preparing media releases, coordinating media engagement, developing social media content and documenting the organisation’s programmes, research, policy work and community activities.

She is also involved in developing the draft SEEP Communications and Media Strategy 2027, which is currently under management review. The proposed strategy aims to strengthen media relationships, improve digital visibility and provide a more coordinated approach to sharing the organisation’s work.

Lusiana has also supported communications for World Rivers Day, helping raise awareness of the importance of rivers, forests and water to communities and the environment.

For Lusiana, good communication is about sharing information, understanding the people behind the stories and ensuring their experiences are represented accurately.

“Meaningful communication is clear, accurate, relevant and connected to people’s experiences.”

“For me, communication is most impactful when it goes beyond sharing information and helps build understanding between organisations and the communities they serve,” she reiterated.

These are lessons she carries with her from journalism, where listening, asking questions and getting the facts right were part of her everyday work.

Looking back, Lusiana sees her graduation as an important milestone and a reminder that, it is never too late to keep learning.

“Completing my degree in April 2024 was an important milestone and a reminder that learning can continue at every stage of a career,” Lusiana said.

Her advice to students interested in journalism and communications is to make the most of their time at university, look for opportunities to gain practical experience and be willing to learn from others.

“Do not be afraid to ask questions or learn from mistakes. Most importantly, remember that communication is not only about speaking or writing well, but also about listening, understanding people and sharing information responsibly,” she added.

Lusiana hopes to continue building her skills in strategic communications, media engagement, digital storytelling and content production.

From an unexpected start in journalism, to her current role in community communications, her journey reflects the value of being open to new opportunities and continuing to learn along the way. Her experience also shows how further study can help working professionals build on what they already know and prepare for the next step in their careers.