Behind the Byline: Meet The Daily Advertiser's business reporter Kenji Sato

He has since taken on the role of The Daily Advertiser's business reporter, and when he sets his eyes on a story you know he means business.

If you have any news tips for Kenji, you can reach him at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au.

It wasn't my first choice in the beginning. After high school I studied actuarial science, which is a job that involves staring at spreadsheets and calculating the risk of death. I can tell you that as you go about your daily life the probability of death eventually reaches 100 per cent.

Given those odds, why squander your life staring at spreadsheets? Why not instead pursue a career that allows you to go outside, talk with real people, and tell interesting stories? Why not become a journalist?

I am the business reporter, which is the perfect fit for me. During high school I was an entrepreneurial kid who always had some money making scheme underway. I've always admired people who possess the entrepreneurial spark, and in my round I get to speak to entrepreneurs every day.

I think Wagga has a lot more opportunities compared to Griffith; there's a lot of activity, a lot of action, and a lot of money coming in and out of this town. We've got a lot of industries that are just beginning to hit their stride and are really punching above their weight. I love its bustling energy.

I wrote a story about a pub in Illabo which could not re-open after lockdown due to a beer supply shortage, rendering it the proverbial pub with no beer. With so many pubs opening at once suppliers were not able to keep up with the demand.

The day after I wrote that article, several Wagga breweries and pubs offered to lend the Illabo Hotel some of their own beer in a show of camaraderie. I was touched.

We do our jobs out of a genuine passion for journalism, not for the money. Going into journalism for the money is like going to Wagga Beach for the 5 o'clock wave: you're going to be disappointed.