By: Summer Kennard
KOROR, Palau — Jerrica Yumiko Davis, Communications Officer for the Protected Areas Network under the Bureau of Environment at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE), has been selected for the 2025 FIBA Oceania Women in Basketball Media Operations Program. Davis will participate in the photography and videography track of the competitive program.
Her journey into media began as an internal capacity-building initiative within MAFE, where she sought to expand her skills in photography and videography to better support her environmental communications role.
In May, Davis completed a four-week online media training hosted by FIBA Oceania, which covered photography, videography, and live commentary. Participants were evaluated on attendance, engagement, and demonstrated media skills, with top performers earning scholarships and mentorships.
“My main motivation was the need to build my capacity in media and execute my work to the fullest,” Davis said. “Though it’s sports-related media, I still get to learn about videography and photography in general.”
Davis, a native of Ngeremlengui State and a 2018 graduate of Palau High School, received the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship in 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications from Ming Chuan University in Taipei in 2023.
Though her day-to-day responsibilities focus on environmental outreach, Davis views media as more than just a tool for work—it’s a personal passion.
“I love photography and videography,” she said. “It inspires me to do more when I capture moments that speak volumes. I get excited when I know that my photos or videos impacted someone.”
The FIBA Oceania Women in Basketball Media Operations Program, administered in partnership with Women in News and Sport (WINS), PacificAus Sports, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International Development (ABCID), provides training, scholarships, and mentorship for women across the Pacific, including Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Fiji. Participants are given opportunities to contribute to regional events such as the Pacific Mini Games, FIBA Melanesian Cups, and the U17 Oceania Cup.
Over its three-year duration, the initiative aims to support more than 1,000 women in roles ranging from athletes and coaches to officials and media professionals.
Looking ahead, Davis hopes to pursue broader opportunities in journalism.
“I hope I get more chances that help me develop myself as a journalist,” she said. “I’m still eager to challenge myself and see what’s next.”
From highlighting Palau’s natural beauty to covering basketball courts across Oceania, Davis’s selection underscores her drive to grow professionally and inspire others through powerful storytelling.