Entertainment journalist

Gabby Tjiroze
June Shimuoshili

June Shimuoshili, an entertainment journalist from the Namibian Sun newspaper says her job description includes covering events and festivals in the arts, entrainment and lifestyle spheres both local and international. “My job is to ensure that all the pages are filled with stories by sourcing story ideas, conducting interviews, taking pictures and finally to writing them,” she said. “On average; my day starts by securing interviews, and scheduling a time that suits the both of us. In a week I run approximately nine stories so I have to make sure I have those with 95% local content at least.”

Shimuoshili is an honours degree holder in Journalism and Communication technology from Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

“To be a good entertainment journalist, you need to have an eye for news. It’s literally everywhere, but it’s hard to get sometimes. You also need to be a go getter and have a drive and passion for it or else you will be left out. You need to be able to maintain a good relationship with your sources but not too close as it might blind either of you and your ethics and principals will be compromised,” she said.

One of the biggest highlights of Shimuoshili is being awarded the best entertainment journalist of the year at the Namibia Annual Music Awards (Namas). “I’ve written some pretty good stories and generally meeting all the sources, celebrities that I used to only see on television, but now I can call anytime for information,” she said.