Daniel Drageset, 29, is a Norwegian radio journalist who graduated with a Master in Communication Studies degree at AUT University.
From Ålesund, Norway, Drageset completed his Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University College of Volda in 2008, majoring in radio journalism.
Drageset worked as an all-round radio news reporter in the nationwide public service broadcaster Radio Norge from June 2008 to January 2012. In 2010, he received the Norwegian Radio Talent of the Year Award, winning a NZ$3200 prize. He was nominated for the best feature radio stories of the year in both 2011 and 2012, and was a highly recognisable "voice" in Norwegian radio.
“One of the appealing aspects of working at Radio Norge was the diverse tasks I was set to do. One day I could interview the prime minister, another day I could interview African prostitutes trawling the main street of Oslo trying to sell their services in biting cold weather," he says.
"I cherish the opportunity to voice the opinion of sources that are rarely heard in mainstream media. I found that to be true when I interviewed the African prostitutes, which were a group of people never before heard in Norwegian media. I have a wide range of interests, and I love to explore all kinds of topics, something I think is a vital quality to have for a journalist.”
The most dramatic moment of his career happened on 22 July 2011, when Norway experienced two terror attacks, leaving 77 people dead. Drageset was at work in the capital of Oslo when the bomb struck just 400m away from the newsroom of Radio Norge.
“I had never thought I would experience a terror attack in my life. Experiencing such a traumatic event as a journalist led me to the realisation that I should never take anything for granted. Even though you think you are in a safe place where nothing happens, that can literally change the next second.”
While Drageset is new to the Pacific region, he has taken a keen interest in issues such as climate change, conflicts and press freedom. He has visited both Samoa and Tonga, and has been appointed Pacific Media Watch contributing editor for 2013. He also won the inaugural Pacific Scoop internship for semester 2 and won the Dart Asia-Pacific Centre trauma journalism prize for 2013.
Daniel Drageset stories on PMC
Daniel Drageset stories on Pacific Scoop