Latika Bourke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Latika M. Bourke (1984-03-09)9 March 1984 (age 41) Bihar, India |
| Occupation | Journalist, author |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | Charles Sturt University |
| Website | |
| Latika Bourke onTwitter | |
Latika M. Bourke (born 9 March 1984) is an Australian author and journalist. She writes forThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age, and in the past has worked for theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation and2UE. Her bookFrom India with Love was published in 2015.
Latika Bourke was born inBihar, India on 9 March 1984. The daughter of a 14-year-old mother, Bourke was left at a Catholic orphanage inBettiah in the care of nuns when she was less than a week old.[1]
Bourke came to Australia in December 1984, adopted by Penny and John Bourke at the age of eight months. In her early childhood, Bourke lived with her family on a farm outsideBathurst, New South Wales. Bourke and her family moved into Bathurst when she was seven years old.[2]
From 2002 to 2005, Bourke studied journalism atCharles Sturt University. During that time she didwork experience at radio station2BS in Bathurst, writing, producing and reading local news, and hosting programs. Before her official graduation in 2006, Bourke was recruited bySydney radio station2UE to work as a reporter.[3]
In 2007, while on the job as a reporter for 2UE, Bourke was verbally abused and told to "cover up" whilst waiting to interview a Muslim cleric who had previously given a sermon comparing uncovered women to exposed meat. She was outsideLakemba Mosque, wearing a long trench coat, knee-high boots and gloves.[4]
In December 2010, theAustralian Broadcasting Commission announced Bourke would be its first 'social media reporter' tasked with reporting primarily via social media.[5] In 2014, Bourke announced she would be leaving the Australian Broadcasting Commission for Fairfax Media, but staying in the Canberra Press Gallery.[6]
Bourke's book,From India with Love, about her journey of self-discovery, was published in 2015. She has said that she gives half of the royalties she earns from sales of her book to orphanages in India.[2]
In December 2015, Bourke announced she would be leaving the Canberra Press Gallery and moving to London at the end of January 2016.[7]
In June 2010, Bourke won theWalkley Award for Young Australian Journalist of the Year, having entered three stories: one onJoe Hockey's leadership aspirations in the Liberal party while in opposition, a second onNick Minchin's campaign against anemissions trading scheme and a third onTony Abbott's challenge ofMalcolm Turnbull to become leader of the opposition.[8]