Naina Rao is an award-winning multimedia journalist and audio producer based in Guam, U.S., reporting on the people, politics, and pulse of the Pacific. Her work focuses on Asia-Pacific geopolitics, public health, culture, the marine environment, and current affairs across the blue continent.
Naina built and led the first newsroom for KPRG 89.3 FM in Guam and Saipan, and her reporting has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, Radio New Zealand, Pacific Island Times, Reckon, and AfroLA, to name a few.
Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Naina is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and Melayu. She's working on her Hindi, enjoys watching Bollywood, and loves to scuba dive. She's a Transom alum and a former Asian American Journalists Association's VOICES mentor.
Naina is available for freelance reporting assignments across the Asia-Pacific, and tape-syncs in Guam, U.S.A. You can connect with her at npbrao@gmail.com.
Awards
2024
Public Media Journalists Association 2024 Scholarship Conference Winner
2022
Institute for Nonprofit News Awards Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism
Asian American Journalists Association Journalism Excellence Awards Excellence in Audio Storytelling, News Feature (Runner Up)
2021
Public Media Journalists Association Best News/Public Affairs Program - Second Place
2017
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Best Talk Show - Second Place