Sia Kosioni to Danikas: I exist in this profession, despite Kostas, not thanks to Kostas and his family

I cognize Sia Kosioni well. Anastasia Kosioni. Born connected May 16. After 20 years astatine SKAI’s cardinal newscast, she inactive carries thing of the miss she was successful the aboriginal days.

She told me: “I was going to travel connected my motorbike, but since you told maine to beryllium decently groomed, I came successful Kostas’s car.”

Three things led maine to this conversation. First, her superior wellness ordeal successful the ICU—Sia, you truly should person had the pneumococcal vaccine. Second, her 2 decades of dependable beingness astatine SKAI’s main quality desk—the transmission is identified with her, and she with the channel. And third, her views connected journalism—and beyond.

Scene 1: “Kostas is not a person to me—he is the antheral I love”

Dimitris Danikas: You’ve been done a precise hard time.

Sia Kosioni: Yes, it was tough.

D.D.: Why didn’t you get vaccinated?

S.K.: Because I didn’t cognize I should. It’s usually recommended for radical implicit 65.

D.D.: It’s really recommended for everyone.

S.K.: I wasn’t informed. Later, doctors told maine it’s particularly important for radical who are perpetually astir others. I’ll get it now—I’m a bully student.

D.D.: Were you ever similar that?

S.K.: I got the grades I aimed for. I learned quickly. I knew that with a spot much effort I could get a cleanable score, but I was besides satisfied with somewhat little if it came easily.

D.D.: Where were you born?

S.K.: In our archetypal home, adjacent Patision, successful what radical telephone “old bully Athens,” specifically successful Agios Meletios. My begetter was an ophthalmologist. Later, my parents decided to rise america person to nature, successful Upper Melissia. Back then, it was forests connected 1 broadside and vineyards connected the other. That’s why, adjacent though I’m from the city, I consciousness profoundly connected to nature.

Now Kostas and I unrecorded successful the center, successful Makrygianni.

D.D.: What’s it similar surviving with a politician?

S.K.: Kostas is not a person to me—he is the antheral I love. And I managed to emotion him due to the fact that helium doesn’t behave similar a emblematic politician. He does what helium believes is right, not what is politically convenient. He’s courageous, a antheral of integrity—that’s wherefore I’m with him.

Scene 2: Through Sia’s eyes

D.D.: How did you meet?

S.K.: The archetypal gathering didn’t spell well. It was connected the radio, erstwhile helium was moving for politician of Karpenisi. I was rather aggressive—borderline arrogant. Afterwards, I felt atrocious and called to clarify: “It’s not personal, it’s professional.” He replied, “No problem.”

At the time, we were some successful different relationships. There was nary thought of thing more.

D.D.: Who influenced you connected television? Elli Stai, perhaps?

S.K.: I can’t accidental 1 idiosyncratic shaped maine much than others. I’ve ever been obsessed with news—and with history.

D.D.: Still, you indispensable person idiosyncratic successful mind.

S.K.: Why—because we’re some blonde with bluish eyes?

D.D.: No—because you stock a akin irony.

S.K.: That’s for viewers to judge. What matters to maine is having honorable conversations. People cognize I whitethorn beryllium strict, but I’m fair. What annoys maine astir is erstwhile I inquire 1 happening and get a wholly antithetic answer—that’s a classical governmental tactic, and I don’t judge it.

Scene 3: “I took each accidental I saw”

D.D.: What was your archetypal job?

S.K.: At a euphony vigor presumption successful Thessaloniki. Then tiny quality bulletins, past fiscal radio, past my ain show. For 2 years, I hosted a 6 a.m. program—I’d aftermath up astatine 4 a.m. portion my chap students were coming backmost from nights out.

I worked astatine ERT3, wrote for magazines—anything that came my way, I took it.

Later, aft my Master’s astatine the London School of Economics, I returned and worked simultaneously successful print, radio, and television. Endless hours, 7 days a week.

D.D.: You justice your ain enactment first.

S.K.: I worked highly hard—nonstop. I’ve made mistakes, of course. I’ve been criticized, adjacent attacked.

But I’m not confrontational by nature. I effort to recognize others earlier judging them.

Scene 4: “There is simply a batch of toxicity”

D.D.: What bash radical accidental astir you?

S.K.: There person been periods of aggravated toxicity—beyond criticism. Organized attacks, trolling.

D.D.: Is that due to the fact that of your husband?

S.K.: Some radical spot it that way, but they’re a minority.

D.D.: Some presume that due to the fact that of your transmission and your husband, you thin politically.

S.K.: That’s a classical mode to diminish a woman—define her done her husband. I’m independent. I had this vocation earlier him. I beryllium successful it contempt him—not due to the fact that of him.

Scene 5: “I chased my dreams”

S.K.: I grew up successful a household that gave maine opportunities. It ne'er crossed my caput that being a pistillate would bounds me.

Of course, others underestimated maine astatine times.

My father, a doctor, was shocked erstwhile I chose journalism: “We don’t cognize anyone successful this field,” helium said. I told him, “I’ll manage.”

I’ve ever worked hard. I’m not acrophobic of effort. Fear exists—but it tin beryllium utile if you negociate it.

Scene 6: “Journalism is simply a vocation”

S.K.: Journalists are intermediaries betwixt powerfulness and citizens. If we place with power, we suffer trust.

There’s nary implicit state anywhere—but determination is responsibility.

I’m 1 of those who inactive judge journalism is simply a calling, a service. Call maine romantic—I don’t mind. If we suffer that, we suffer everything.

Scene 7: “My quality gives maine confidence”

D.D.: What defines you more—your words oregon your image?

S.K.: Would you inquire that if I were a man?

D.D.: Your representation is portion of your strength.

S.K.: I don’t contradict it. But if that were all, I wouldn’t inactive beryllium here. Appearance matters—it’s respect for the audience. But it’s not everything.

It gives maine confidence, yes—but the substance is what keeps you there.

Final thoughts

D.D.: What was the hardest infinitesimal of your life?

S.K.: After what I went done recently, lone wellness matters. Everything other seems smaller now.

If I had gone to the infirmary a small later, we mightiness not beryllium having this conversation. That changes however you spot everything.

I realized however fragile beingness is—and however overmuch I inactive privation to do.

This acquisition taught maine to perceive to my body. I utilized to propulsion myself beyond limits. Now I effort not to hide that lesson.

As we wrapped up, I asked astir her future.

Her reply said it all:

“I don’t cognize what I’ll bash next. The lone happening I cognize is that I don’t privation this occupation to deterioration maine out. I privation to measurement distant connected my ain terms—when I consciousness I can’t bash it anymore.”