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Najwa Shihab: Conversations with great minds

(JP/R

Niken Prathivi (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, April 21, 2013

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Najwa Shihab: Conversations with great minds (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)" border="0" height="319" width="350">(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)Television journalist and news anchor Najwa Shihab looks into the eyes of newsmakers in her pursuit of great ideas.

Najwa loves exchanging ideas - and for that very reason she has stuck to her a career as a journalist, which has opened her way to meet inspirational people and to hear their stories.

“I believe each person has an interesting story to tell, not necessarily just the public figures,” says the holder of a bachelor’s degree in law from University of Indonesia (2000) and master’s degree in law from the University of Melbourne, Australia (2009).

With such conviction, Najwa has become a household name in local media, hosting a popular current affairs news program, Mata Najwa (Najwa’s Eye) on MetroTV for the past three years. The show’s title represents her sharpness and boldness as a journalist, as well as her distinctive piercing gaze from which it is hard to hide.

Najwa says that she uses her show to create a dialogue with her guests.

“A talk show is supposed to be a place for exchanging ideas. I never treat it as just another question-and-answer session,” says the 35-year-old. “The dialog and the exchange make it an interesting show to watch.”

Najwa has conversed with multitude of newsmakers during her 13 years at MetroTV—from national greats to politicians to criminals—and has honed her skill in creating insightful talks with people. For Mata Najwa, the wife of lawyer Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf commonly presents discussions on current issues in law and politics.

Despite being part of the nuts-and-bolts section of a news television network, Najwa says that the most memorable interview she has had on her show was with former president B.J. Habibie following the loss of his wife, Ainun.

“It was Pak Habibie’s first interview after his loss. He specifically asked for me when he was ready, which was after 40 days after Ibu Ainun passed away,” says Najwa, who currently also serves as the deputy editor-in-chief at the station.

Najwa said she was honored by the rare opportunity.

“I’m quite close with Pak Habibie and his family. I was really privileged that I was the first journalist chosen by him to express his feelings over the loss and his broken heart – and he was very open about his feeling.”
(Courtesy of Najwa Shihab)(Courtesy of Najwa Shihab)
It was special, Najwa said, because the experience was different from most interviews that she had conducted for the show, allowing her to present a human interest story about one of the nation’s leaders and politicians.

A runner up in the Best Current Affairs Presenter category at the Asian Television Award in 2007 and 2009, Najwa has also interviewed presidential candidates in the last two general elections. Besides the big names, Najwa says that she is also impressed by inspirational people, including the father she spoke to who walked from Malang, East Java, to Jakarta to get justice after his child was killed in a road accident by a police officer.

As for the less fun interviews, Najwa admits that she has had such experiences with a few people.

“There were some made remarks against me personally. For example, when I asked this source about a [Cabinet] reshuffle, the person told me to ask my uncle, Alwi Shihab, who was once reshuffled.

“Or when I asked something of a former official from the New Order regime, I thought this person felt cornered, and told me to ask my father [Quraish Shihab], who was a minister for Pak Harto [former president Soeharto].

“I’m not comfortable with these kinds of statements,” she explains.

Starting as an intern at RCTI, the first private television station in the country, in 1999, Najwa chose MetroTV to develop her journalistic career.

“I was among the first seven, if I’m not mistaken, reporters at MetroTV back in 2000. RCTI introduced me to the fun and challenging journalistic world. But, then I went all out at MetroTV,” says Najwa, who never thought that she would become a journalist.
(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)Television journalist and news anchor Najwa Shihab looks into the eyes of newsmakers in her pursuit of great ideas.

Najwa loves exchanging ideas - and for that very reason she has stuck to her a career as a journalist, which has opened her way to meet inspirational people and to hear their stories.

'€œI believe each person has an interesting story to tell, not necessarily just the public figures,'€ says the holder of a bachelor'€™s degree in law from University of Indonesia (2000) and master'€™s degree in law from the University of Melbourne, Australia (2009).

With such conviction, Najwa has become a household name in local media, hosting a popular current affairs news program, Mata Najwa (Najwa'€™s Eye) on MetroTV for the past three years. The show'€™s title represents her sharpness and boldness as a journalist, as well as her distinctive piercing gaze from which it is hard to hide.

Najwa says that she uses her show to create a dialogue with her guests.

'€œA talk show is supposed to be a place for exchanging ideas. I never treat it as just another question-and-answer session,'€ says the 35-year-old. '€œThe dialog and the exchange make it an interesting show to watch.'€

Najwa has conversed with multitude of newsmakers during her 13 years at MetroTV'€”from national greats to politicians to criminals'€”and has honed her skill in creating insightful talks with people. For Mata Najwa, the wife of lawyer Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf commonly presents discussions on current issues in law and politics.

Despite being part of the nuts-and-bolts section of a news television network, Najwa says that the most memorable interview she has had on her show was with former president B.J. Habibie following the loss of his wife, Ainun.

'€œIt was Pak Habibie'€™s first interview after his loss. He specifically asked for me when he was ready, which was after 40 days after Ibu Ainun passed away,'€ says Najwa, who currently also serves as the deputy editor-in-chief at the station.

Najwa said she was honored by the rare opportunity.

'€œI'€™m quite close with Pak Habibie and his family. I was really privileged that I was the first journalist chosen by him to express his feelings over the loss and his broken heart '€“ and he was very open about his feeling.'€

(Courtesy of Najwa Shihab)
(Courtesy of Najwa Shihab)

It was special, Najwa said, because the experience was different from most interviews that she had conducted for the show, allowing her to present a human interest story about one of the nation'€™s leaders and politicians.

A runner up in the Best Current Affairs Presenter category at the Asian Television Award in 2007 and 2009, Najwa has also interviewed presidential candidates in the last two general elections. Besides the big names, Najwa says that she is also impressed by inspirational people, including the father she spoke to who walked from Malang, East Java, to Jakarta to get justice after his child was killed in a road accident by a police officer.

As for the less fun interviews, Najwa admits that she has had such experiences with a few people.

'€œThere were some made remarks against me personally. For example, when I asked this source about a [Cabinet] reshuffle, the person told me to ask my uncle, Alwi Shihab, who was once reshuffled.

'€œOr when I asked something of a former official from the New Order regime, I thought this person felt cornered, and told me to ask my father [Quraish Shihab], who was a minister for Pak Harto [former president Soeharto].

'€œI'€™m not comfortable with these kinds of statements,'€ she explains.

Starting as an intern at RCTI, the first private television station in the country, in 1999, Najwa chose MetroTV to develop her journalistic career.

'€œI was among the first seven, if I'€™m not mistaken, reporters at MetroTV back in 2000. RCTI introduced me to the fun and challenging journalistic world. But, then I went all out at MetroTV,'€ says Najwa, who never thought that she would become a journalist.
(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

As reporter, producer, news anchor, program owner to deputy editor-in-chief, Najwa has grown with the TV station.

With more weight on her shoulders, Najwa says that she is honestly struggling to manage her career and home life.

'€œIf I want to have me-time at a hair salon for a nice cream bath for two hours, for example, I feel like I will lose a quality time with my son, Izzat. But then again, I think all mothers feel the same.

'€œHowever, Izzat is getting bigger now. He'€™s 12, and he is starting to get busy in his own world '€“ playing with his friends. He was clingy then, but now I'€™m the one who is reaching out for his attention,'€ says Najwa, with a laugh.

So, Najwa prefers to stay at home, flipping through the channels, or simply reading light novels. Otherwise, she gets together with her best friends from work '€” including former MetroTV anchors Meutia Hafidz and Kania Sutisnawinata.

Behind her sweet smile, Najwa is still coping with the loss of her second child. '€œI delivered Namia in my seventh month of pregnancy. She survived for about four hours, but then passed away.'€

Najwa says that she will live with her grief.

Najwa may still have more ups and downs in her life. Nevertheless, she says she will keep her faith as a grateful
person.

'€œHappiness means that you'€™re being able to be thankful for whatever you'€™ve earned. Humans have no limit in satisfaction, but if you'€™re grateful, then you'€™re happy.'€

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