KOTA KINABALU: On most days, mother-of-three Mariah Doksil juggles with her job as a journalist and her life as a mother as well as a daughter navigating the needs of ageing parents.

But on World Press Freedom Day, she stands as something more - a symbol of resilience and quiet revolution in the Sabah media landscape.

At 42, Mariah has become the first woman elected as president of the Sabah Journalists Association (SJA), a role she never actively sought but accepted when she realised the potential impact it could have on the future of journalism in the state.

“Honestly, it is a mix of emotions. 2025 has been an overwhelming year for me. I had just moved house, my son was entering the dreaded pre-teen years, and my parents' health was declining. It was not the best time,” she shared.

However, it was a moment that demanded courage.

Just a month earlier, Mariah had attended a gender equality workshop in Kuala Lumpur, where being surrounded by bold women writers and activists sparked something within her.

She felt empowered, and when elected unopposed as the first woman president, she admitted, "I was both excited to contribute but also a little anxious about the responsibility. Still, I am truly grateful for the trust and support shown by all members and the committee."

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Her main goal as president is to ensure that the association remains inclusive and provides a safe space for journalists to openly share their concerns.

Formerly SJA treasurer, Mariah took on the challenge after former president Datuk Muguntan Vanar expressed his desire to create new leadership within the association.

Mariah’s journalism career spans nearly two decades, all of them with The Borneo Post.

She has covered everything from the harrowing Tanduo intrusion to the 2015 Mount Kinabalu earthquake and the nail-biting 2018 Sabah Chief Minister crisis.

Her work has not always been on the front lines. Sometimes, she has been in the newsroom, attending press conferences, coordinating online coverage, and working late into the night.

“But that is where I learned the importance of language. One wrong phrase when reporting G-to-G (government-to-government) issues could spark conflict,” she said.

Her first Facebook Live for the newspaper during the 2018 crisis drew over 50,000 viewers, thrusting her into the digital spotlight.

“I didn’t even have time to process what was happening; I just did the job,” she recalled.

Despite her professional accolades, from the then Kinabalu Press Awards to national recognition in eco-tourism writing, the question of quitting still lingers in her mind.

“Honestly, I have thought about resigning many times. When the kids fall sick, when my husband cannot get leave, when exhaustion catches up, I ask myself, ‘Is this worth it?’”

What keeps her going is not just the adrenaline of breaking stories, but her roots - a Tombonuo woman from Pitas, her family and community have always believed in the power of her writing.

Her father’s advice echoes in her mind: “Tahan saja kerja tu. Banyak sudah kau tolong orang dari cara kau tulis (Just hang in there. You have helped many through your writing)."

“And the truth is, if I stop writing, I would lose half of who I am,” she said.

Her life today is a well-oiled machine, with air fryers and washer-dryers helping reduce housework, and her children trained to enjoy simple meals.

Her husband’s rotating shift schedule and a strong network of friends and family help her balance parenting and reporting.

“When I am not chasing assignments, I work from home. The kids do their homework at the dining table while I write my news stories. Yes, it can get chaotic, but it works,” said Mariah.

She credits her editor, chief reporter, and the newsroom culture for offering the flexibility she needs to thrive as both a journalist and a mother.

“Not many jobs in Sabah offer this kind of freedom.”

Though new to the role of SJA president, Mariah’s goals are clear.

She is focused on improving training for both new and veteran journalists, especially with a potential state election on the horizon.

Mariah is keenly aware of the challenges faced by local journalists, from stagnant pay, poor training, a lack of union protection, to growing editorial interference.

“Salary remains a long-standing and unresolved issue for local journalists. Some senior reporters are still supporting families on minimum wage, with no pay raise in nearly a decade. Pandemic-era pay cuts persist for many, while others receive no compensation for advertorials. Contract reporters, too, are frequently underpaid,” she noted.

More worrying to her is the ethical decline caused by unregulated online portals hiring untrained contributors.

“It is not just about pay. It is about quality, dignity, and doing right by the public,” she said.

World Press Freedom Day is more than just a date on the calendar for Mariah. It is a moment of reflection.

“This day reminds me why I turned down a university degree offer to pursue a Diploma in Mass Communication at KDU College. It reminds me why I applied to work at The Borneo Post and why I have stayed with the profession to this day … because journalism is where my heart truly lies.”

To her, press freedom is not simply about what journalists are allowed to say, but how they responsibly wield that power.

She welcomes the recent passage of the Malaysian Media Council Bill, calling it “a landmark step”, but believes real change will only come when outdated laws, like the Sedition Act and Printing Presses and Publications Act, are reviewed and repealed.

As she leads Sabah’s journalistic community into a new chapter, Mariah does not see herself as a trailblazer.

“I am just trying to hold the line, so the next generation has it a little easier.”

And when the weight of the world feels too much, she leans on those who believe in her: her husband Sulaiman Inchok, their three sons — Qayyum, Qaid, and Fuad — and her father’s words, along with fellow reporters who remind her she is not alone.

“If journalism did not exist, I don’t know what I would do. This is my life. And I still have stories to tell,” she said.

World Press Freedom Day is observed annually on May 3, commemorating the 1991 Windhoek Declaration that champions a free and independent press.

Established by the United Nations in 1993, it serves to assess press freedom worldwide, defend journalists, and honour those who have died in the line of duty.