PNGFM welcomes Ms. Hennah Joku as the News Director for its news portal PNG Haus Bung, bringing with her years of experience in the media industry and in various other roles.
PNGFM Board Chairman Mr. Peter Aitsi says Ms. Joku's appointment announces a bold new era for PNGFM’s refreshed news platform, PNG Haus Bung.
“We are very pleased to have Hennah Joku join us as our News Director.”
Of Central and West Papuan heritage, Joku comes from a family deeply rooted in Papua New Guinea’s media landscape. Her late father, Franzalbert Joku, was a respected journalist of nearly two decades with The Times, Wantok Niuspepa, and South Pacific Post, before moving into political advisory roles. Her mother, Rosemary Joku, also served in administrative capacities with Wantok Niuspepa and The National.
Ms. Joku's media career spans close to three decades, and brings a wealth of experience across television, radio, and broadcast journalism, having begun her journey in the mid-1990s.
Her first foray was in television which began at just fifteen years old under the mentorship of John Eggins and Robin Brown at EMTV. While completing senior high school, she spent weekends and school holidays learning the ropes of television production. In 1997, she joined EMTV full-time as an administrative assistant and was promoted within weeks to trainee journalist.
Joku later pursued tertiary studies in Anthropology at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, further broadening her regional and cultural perspective.
Her distinguished career includes roles with the British High Commission, Media Consultant to the Office of the Opposition Leader, Special Projects Officer at the PNG Embassy in Jakarta, Producer/Presenter with NBC for Current Affairs Radio and the 2017 National Elections TV/Radio simulcast, Presenter/Producer with TVWan, and more recently Media and Communications Manager for PNG Tribal Foundation and Cricket PNG.
No stranger to radio, Joku re-joins the PNGFM family after 26 years, returning with deeper insight, strong leadership, and a proven track record shaped by passion and dedication to the PNG media industry.
Speaking on the appointment, Rosemarie Botong, General Manager, said:
“Hennah’s return to PNGFM could not come at a better time as we reposition PNG Haus Bung as a strong, independent, credible, and people-centred news platform. She brings institutional memory, editorial strength, and a deep understanding of the responsibility that comes with storytelling in Papua New Guinea. We are excited to welcome her home and confident she will play a key leadership role in shaping the future of PNG Haus Bung and our wider media group.”
Beyond her professional credentials, Joku is also widely recognized as a strong advocate against violence towards women and girls, using her media platform to champion justice and social change in Papua New Guinea.
“PNGFM is proud to welcome Hennah Joku to the team, where we know her leadership, voice, and experience will be an asset to PNG Haus Bung and the company.”
