In the male-dominated world of sports media, two trailblazing Pacific journalists, Jamie Haro and Taina Basiyalo, are redefining what leadership looks and sounds like behind the microphone. Through Oceania Rugby’s Commentary and Mobile Journalism Program (CAMP), they’ve not only sharpened their storytelling and commentary skills but built a powerful sisterhood of women sports journalists who are amplifying women’s voices, challenging stereotypes, and paving the way for future generations.

Stories about athletes and their tales of sporting glory are plentiful in the media landscape, but what about the people writing and reporting those stories? Meet Jamie Haro, an award-winning journalist and budding sports commentator from Papua New Guinea, and Taina Basiyalo, an emerging multimedia sports journalist from Fiji.

With experience across radio, print, digital and national television, Jamie and Taina are making waves in the traditionally male-dominated world of sports media. Known for their energy, insight, and compelling storytelling, both women have faced challenges – but they’re not backing down.

“Being new to commentary wasn’t easy. I was the only woman in the broadcast team for two full rugby seasons. The live broadcast team and co-commentators were all men. The criticism came hard – not from colleagues, but from social media. Being a female voice, men questioned my place and my knowledge of the game. But I’m here to change that mindset. Rugby is loved by both men and women in PNG – and we deserve to hear ourselves in the commentary. I want to be part of setting the benchmark for what women sports journalists can do and welcome other women into this space.” – Jamie Haro

Oceania Rugby’s Commentary and Mobile Journalism Program

Jamie and Taina were recently selected to take part in Oceania Rugby’s Commentary and Mobile Journalism Program (CAMP) – delivered by the ABC International Development Unit and funded by the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Sport Administration Program (PWSAP).

CAMP focuses on building the visibility of women in sports media and equips participants with skills in commentary, digital storytelling, and social media – all through the lens of women’s rugby.

CAMP participants trained with leading figures in the sports media landscape including ABC’s Aaron Kearney and Sally Eeles, international commentator Rikki Swannell, World Rugby content creator Arizona Leger, and former Fiji players Lailanie Burnes and Kuini Vuli.

“As an emerging commentator, I learned so much from Rikki and Kuin. Kuini gave insight into referee calls as a player and as a commentator – that was something I really wanted to learn because games are fast you need to read referee hand signals in real time – so I gained a lot of confidence working with her. Rikki’s presentation on what it takes to be a commentator not just in the moment, but beforehand doing in-depth research and studying that technical game talk used in commentary – I found that really useful.” – Jamie Haro

“Arizona taught us how to find that one magic moment – a short, powerful story that cuts through. I created a 14-second clip that went viral – it was picked up by ABC Pacific and Rugby Australia and received amazing feedback on Instagram and across social media. Previously I would overproduce, filming from start to end, but in the session I learned to pick one moment that nobody else has seen, to find that untold story and focus on that – keeping it short and effective.” – Taina Basiyalo

More women commentators pitch side

Jamie and Taina put their new skills into action, honing their craft pitch side, during the 2025 Oceania Rugby Women’s XV Championship and Oceania Under-20s Championship in Sigatoka and Nadi.

“To be honest I was really nervous going into the first Oceania Rugby Women’s XV Championship match between Fijiana and Tonga – but having the other women journalists around me and seeing them just give everything of themselves and go all out in terms of applying what we had learnt in CAMP, just boosted me and I went for it. It was really encouraging to receive the feedback from Rickki and my commentary and sideline interviewing improved a lot between the first match and the finals.” – Jamie Haro

Building a sisterhood in sports media

Beyond technical training, CAMP built something more powerful – a lasting network of Pacific women in sports media.

“What made it even more meaningful was the bond we formed as women who share the same passion. We exchanged ideas, offered support, share contacts and lifted each other up. It wasn’t just about improving our skills. We built as sisterhood, a connection that goes beyond rugby, one that will last a lifetime. Now, whenever we need updates from our island homes we know exactly who to call.” – Taina Basiyalo

Back home behind the microphone

Back home, Jamie and Taina are using their platforms to pave the way for others. Taina has launched a freelance sports media page and created an informal industry support network for women journalists. Jamie was recognised as Sports Journalist of the Year at the 2025 PNG Media Awards and won the SP Sports Awards Media of the Year.

“One of the greatest moments for me has been forming the women’s sports journalist group in Fiji – there are four of us from four different media organisations and we all support each other and share information. Of course we remain competitors, we’re obviously still out there to get the best stories for our organisations, but when we need support, or we face challenges in the field, we are there to support and motivate each other. With the opportunities I’ve had and everything I’ve learned at CAMP, I would like to share that and not gatekeep that knowledge which can sometimes happen in a competitive industry. I would like for more women to be on the same level professionally and showcasing what we can do.” – Taina Basiyalo