Starting this week on Dan News, we are celebrating the hardworking people in the media industry.
We’ll explore what drives them, where their passions began, and their views on the industry today and where it’s headed in the future.
This week’s guest is Melissa Chan-Green, a journalist with more than two decades of experience in New Zealand and abroad.
Melissa reflects on her early passion for writing, the influence of her grandfather’s service and storytelling legacy, and some of the defining moments of her career — including covering Nelson Mandela’s funeral in Soweto.
She also shares her thoughts on the challenges facing today’s media, from questions of trust and diversity to the fast-moving impact of AI, while giving us a more personal glimpse into her life, from family time at the beach to her love of Baz Luhrmann films and Supergroove throwbacks.
When did you first become interested in media, and why?
I always loved writing at school. I had my heart set on becoming a journalist from the age of about 12 and started going in to the local newspaper and TVNZ for work experience while I was on school holidays.
Who are some people you admire or look up to as role models, either in your career or in life in general?
I have been doing some research lately about the NZ Chinese Servicemen and women in WWII. My Grandad was one of them and I greatly admire the work he did as a Sergeant in the RNZAF.
It was a time when there were very few ethnically diverse faces in the armed services here and their service contributed significantly to the changing attitudes towards the community at the time. Before he died, he began compiling information about the NZ Chinese who served. My Aunt has also worked on books about the history of the community so I like to think Grandad kicked off 3 generations of storytellers.
It’s an old question, but I love it: If you were to invite four people to dinner (living or dead), who would you choose and why?
Well Grandad for sure, there is so much we don’t know which I wish I had asked when we had the chance.
I would invite the late Queen. I have been lucky enough to meet her previously (I know, shameless name drop) but I think there are few people who would have such an unshared perspective on history and world leaders as she would.
Then for a bit of light relief, Adele always seems like someone I would love to have a laugh with.
And finally I would bring my husband. With two little kids, we very rarely get to go for dinner together!
I’m assuming we’re eating out. The Queen does not want to be dealing with my cooking.
What is a memory from your career so far that will stick with you well after you retire?
The funeral of Nelson Mandela at Soweto stadium and the events surrounding that to farewell him in South Africa. There are many memories I take of historic events but from the viewpoint of the political and cultural relevance, this was such a unique experience.
Tell us some of your interests outside of work.
I am happiest when at the beach with my kids. We also love reading and watching sport – mostly cricket and rugby but anything really.
What is your favourite movie and television show? (I’ll allow you to choose a runner-up for both… just to be nice.)
One of my favourites is Strictly Ballroom. I just love the Baz Luhrmann style.
My favourite TV show would be Peep Show by Jesse Armstrong and my runner up was also written by him, Succession.
What are some of your most played songs?
Well at the moment it’s Emma Memma and Elmo’s song.
When I get the chance to pick, I like a Supergroove throwback.
Give us a random or weird fact that people may not know about you.
I have two crooked pinkie fingers, which runs in my family.
A couple of harder ones. How would you describe the state of the media industry both locally and internationally at the moment, and do you have any suggestions about how things need to change?
The media industry is in a state of massive change – it always has been evolving since I started working in media 25 years ago but never faster than it is now.
My suggestion would be there needs to be a big focus on trust and diversity. How you build trust with a community and how might we look at ways to ensure we can hold information to a certain standard when anyone can post online and state it as fact.
And then with growing fragmentation in how people get their news and information, how do we ensure that diversity of thought and representation is protected.
Where do you see AI fitting into a modern media industry? What do you personally see as the advantages and disadvantages of its use?
Personally I see efficiencies in using AI and I think from a business perspective it is essential that we think about ways in which we might be able to improve productivity through using tech.
However, from a news perspective, there are massive limitations and inaccuracies in AI still and I think we should approach with curiosity but caution.
Who from the industry would you like to see answering these eleven questions?
Lloyd Burr
(Lloyd, we will be in touch!)
Tell us what you like about working on School Shorts
I am enjoying getting time to research an area I have long been passionate about in education, but especially in early literacy skills. There are big changes going on in New Zealand schools at the moment and as a journalist and as a parent I wanted to get my head around that and help digest that information for others who are also interested.
You can check it out on social media @schoolshortsnz and listen to the School Shorts podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
To our readers: Who would you like to see answering 11 Questions? Send us your ideas — or have a go at answering them yourself.
Email: news@dannews.tv
