In August, Rio supported Sky News Australia as a fixer during their coverage of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. From the official Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6 to interviews with survivors and researchers, the team reported on how the legacy of the atomic bomb continues to shape lives today, and how people are working to pass on its stories to future generations.
Three features aired in Australia and are now available on YouTube – please have a look if you have time:
The assignment began with the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which started early in the morning of August 6. With accreditation and handmade Sky News armbands, the crew entered the site alongside world leaders, including then–Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The ceremony itself lasted about an hour, and the Sky team went live several times before and after the event.
Throughout the following days, the coverage included:
An interview with Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and with former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
High school students performing picture-story shows (kamishibai) in English to share the horrors of the bomb.
The traditional lantern floating on the Motoyasu River.
A conversation with Satoshi, an atomic bomb survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who shared his experiences and his message for a world without nuclear weapons.
A visit to Reibun Kayō of Hiroshima University’s Peace Institute, who continues to collect relics and remains from the bombing to honor the victims.
The final training session and interview with Toshihiro Masuo, who is preparing to serve as a certified “Atomic Bomb Storyteller,” even conducting parts of the interview in English.
Working alongside Asia Correspondent Staś and Videographer Ollie was an inspiring experience. Both were not only incredibly hardworking—doing as many as five or six live crosses in a single day—but also wonderful colleagues to collaborate with.
We hope to welcome the Sky News Australia team back to Japan again in the future, and of course, it would be great to collaborate with our colleagues at Sky News UK as well.
