Page 7 - Southwell School_The Chronicle July 2022

CYCLING THE SILK ROAD
magnitude, to the mountains and remote parts of Hungary interviewing farmers, park rangers, environmentalists, to Parliament in New Zealand we’re you’re so close to power and decision-making that affects all Kiwis. The Weirdest? I once had a goat interrupt a press conference with Winston Peters in the far north.
Your biggest takeaway from your journey to date?
I won an environmental journalism award for the reporting I did on a company wanting to extract water from near Mt Aspiring National Park and pipe it out through a Kiwi sanctuary on the West Coast. It would have threatened not only kiwi but also the Fiordland crested penguins that nested on that coastline. That was a reminder of the influence we have as journalists - and how important it is that our work continues to be funded properly and the media has a plurality of voices. No one would’ve found out about that pipeline if I hadn’t had time to rifle through resource consent documents.
What’s next?
I am very excited about, returning to Newshub where
I’ll be senior journalist and Climate Correspondent. Newshub created this role for me which I’m really proud of; they recognize that climate change demands more and better coverage, it’s the biggest emergency our world faces and needs journalism that not only conveys the gravity of that, but is driven by solutions and optimism.
As for cycling... at the moment I’m having to be content with my commute from Island Bay in Wellington to Parliament which is such an invigorating start to my day (easier on crisp autumn days than howling southerly days!) but next I’m keen to cycle Uganda or Patagonia. Bike touring refreshes your perspective on life and the world and gives you a reset from the grind by taking you back to basics, only needing to think about your route and your food and where you’ll get water, being physically tired at the end of each day. It’s a wonderful way to explore a place and meet people, while giving yourself a renewed appreciation of your life and all you have to be grateful for.
Any message going forward based on your experiences to date?
I’m very aware that I’m fortunate to be in a job that
I really mostly love. My message would be to pursue what you love for work because you spend most of your life doing it. But also I’ve learnt over the years not to take yourself or your work too seriously. All you can do is try your best, have fun and be nice to people.
To view DOMA visit:
www.isobelewing.com/silk-road-journey
IISOBEL E WING
sobel Ewing (2000-2002) is usually the one asking questions. An award winning Journalist, you will be familiar with her work in both print and television
over the past 7 years covering politics, social and climate issues and breaking news. Outside of the somewhat unpredictable journalism lifestyle, you’re likely to find Isobel outdoors. A keen trail runner, skiier, climber and cyclist, in 2019 Isobel and her brother, Southwell old Boy Jack Ewing (2003-4) dreamed up their best and most exciting adventure yet. Cycling the Silk Road.
The Silk Road is an ancient trade route that linked the Western world with the Middle East and Asia. A major trade route stretching many thousands of kilometers between the Roman Empire medieval European kingdoms and China, it held a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the East and West.
Jack and Isobel cycled 2427km just under two months and created a must see documentary called “Doma”. Intriguing....you bet! We found out a little bit about balancing mainstream journalism and the need to get off the beaten track...
Inspiration wise, is your to do list set or do the goalposts keep changing?
I am certainly a goal posts keep changing type personality. I’ve never been able to sit still for long and I’m always looking for the next adventure or means of pushing myself. My work forms much of my sense of self, so I have to feel excited about it. If I’m not enjoying something, I will leave and find something that makes me feel energised. The Silk Road bike trip was born out of a need to do something tough and totally different, and it taught me much about what I am capable of, and the extreme difficulty of some parts (having giardia for weeks, climbing to mountain passes in a calorie deficit) made the high points, chancing on a beautiful alpine meadow camp spot, a man appearing from nowhere gifting us a bucket of tomatoes when our stove had broken - so much sweeter.
Looking to the past, what have been the best-worst- weirdest parts along the way?
Best parts of the journey have been many, working with great people, especially talented camera operators and editors to craft stories together. The places I’ve gone as a reporter; to India early in my career for an internship at the Deccan Herald in Bangalore, to Budapest as the pandemic took hold of the world and as the WHO grappled with its