Samela was the editor of the Adelaide University’s student newspaper On Dit, whilst enrolled at the AU Law School.

 

In 1964, Samela accepted a Murdoch scholarship, which led to her debut as a professional journalist and was the first female general news reporter on Rupert Murdoch’s, The News of Adelaide.

 

Samela has worked overseas for AAP Reuters, The Edinburgh Evening News and as the UK correspondent for the Australian.

 

Whilst at the Advertiser, Samela served as arts editor, and as a principle theatre critic and commentator, also becoming the inaugural chair of the Adelaide Critics Circle in 1997.