The second post in our alumni profile series for the 20th year of AIMEP is about Marini Sayuti, a journalist and alumna of the 2019 AIMEP. Read her story below:

Marini Sayuti

When I was a young girl in high school, I used to watch the news and dream of one day being a news anchor. But after 5 years of working as a journalist, when I was finally asked if I would like an anchor role, it was on the condition that my hair was exposed and that I not wear the hijab.

At first, I was quite upset and disappointed with the unfairness of this. When I asked why, I was told it didn’t match with the look of news anchors around the world. And in fact, although 90% of the population of Indonesia is Muslim, there isn’t a single female news anchor with the hijab.

I wear the hijab for religious reasons, but at that time, it was already becoming more and more fashionable in Indonesia, made popular by celebrities who started a movement that we called ‘hijrah’. Meanwhile, it was starting to be seen as another fashion choice, something that could be worn in bright colours and enjoyed. As a result, I had a lot of friends who supported me at that time, and encouraged me not to take the role.

This was not the first time I had faced this kind of discrimination. There were only a few reporters in Indonesia who wore the hijab, and I felt that I was often underestimated as a journalist because I chose to wear it. For example, I would be asked if I could handle more risky cases, and sometimes there was an implication that I couldn’t report impartially, for example if I did a live report from a church at Christmas. But I always just saw myself as a professional first. And I worked twice as hard as others, to show I was just as good as them.

I started looking for another job, and two months later, I found a part time role as a news anchor for a community TV station operated by the second largest Muslim community in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, TVMu.

During this time, I decided to apply for the AIMEP program, and when I was accepted, I was very excited. We visited the ABC, the National Broadcaster of Australia, which is similar to TVRI in Indonesia. I asked one of the staff if they have any news anchors with hijabs, and he said that unfortunately they didn’t, but that there was always a possibility that they would one day! And I joked that perhaps it could be me.

Even though I have now moved on from journalism, I would really recommend it as a career to anyone who likes a challenge. I’ve always loved the fact that journalists are a part of history, because you are the first person to spread the news. But it’s not always as easy as you might think.

Firstly, you need to be physically and mentally strong. You have to be able to travel anytime, anywhere, under any conditions, and often under pressure. Sometimes you deal with risky situations and work with sources that you view as dangerous, but you still need to be able to control the situation and remain calm. Then you must be able to report what you saw and felt, even if this means holding back your own feelings. You also shouldn’t expect to have free time at weekends! Not to mention the beauty standards that are expected of women.

As a woman journalist who wears a hijab, you will probably face even more challenges. But my own experience has shown me that a journalist with a hijab can associate with anyone and achieve anything, as long as we are treated with respect.

Photographs: Rowan Gould, Marini Sayuti, Ferry Yanuar