PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Government officials responsible for the sudden suspension of senior news editor Dorah Masseung from her management position in the Papua New Guinea national broadcasting corporation must let the national media do its work without fear or political pressure.
Masseung, the Executive News Director for NBC, was 'relieved' of her duties on Tuesday 14 December after officials alleged NBC had been 'biased in its reporting on current political activities'. She was sent home on full pay. All political stories will now be 'checked' before going to air, with NBC Managing director Memafu Kapera telling local journalists this was to ensure balance in reporting. He has also denied a gag is in place for NBC, the largest broadcast organisation covering Papua New Guinea's 6 million-plus population.
"There is little doubt that the media attention to the leadership issues facing Prime Minister Somare, and his recent commentary against the media, has led to the current backlash against the state broadcaster. As a journalist in management, Masseung is merely a scapegoat for this misdirected anger," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"PFF calls on the incoming prime minister to treat political interference in the public right to know as an urgent constitutional matter and make sure that the editor is reinstated."
Masseung is a longtime journalist with the National Broadcasting Corporation. She was with the organisation in the days before independence, when the former NBC was little more than an information arm supported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"We also strongly urge media and officials to step up public awareness of the role of the PNG Media Council as a key point of contact on media complaints," says Laumaea.
Without a clear and open complaints process, allegations of imbalance and biased reporting are often just an excuse for officials to bully and control the media, especially government-owned media says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
"To go straight from complaints being received to sending key people home and controlling editorial news values is clearly robbing the people of Papua New Guinea of their right to being fully and accurately informed on the issues of the day."
"We stand in support of the commitment to professional standards of media reportage by our PNG media colleagues, and condemn this breach of human rights for Ms Masseung, her news colleagues, and NBC's audience."--ENDS
CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
Pacific Freedom Forum is a regional media body, monitoring threats to press freedom and journalism ethics across Oceania.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Monday 13 December 2010
Tonga government and media must support complaints process, says PFF
PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum says an open and transparent media complaints process for Tonga could have helped to keep 12 Tongans working, and controversial Tongan talkback-FM station ONE-FM88.1 on-air.
The FM station was shut down on December 4, a day after the owner of its broadcasting license cut short the agreed timeframe for its return and wanted it back, citing complaints against program content as one of the reasons for his decision. The operating company for FM ONE,Broadcom Ltd, was set up by Maka and Katalaina Tohi, both former employees of the state owned national broadcaster. The Tohi's and Broadcom have been waiting on the outcome of their application for a license to Tonga's government since last year, and had been broadcasting using a license owned by Taimi Media Group's Kalafi Moala.
Moala rejects any notion that government pressure made him decide to take back his license from Broadcom before the agreed end date of January 2011. In new developments, Broadcom's application for another available FM frequency in Tonga is undergoing more delays by the outgoing government.
"Until a complaint over material is seriously looked into by a tribunal representing the public interest, the current situation is confusing. The complaints never seem to move beyond being serious allegations against media operators whose bread and butter is information," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"Without putting a complaint or the information that started it all under investigation, there is nothing there to help Tongans, let alone Tongan journalists, understand the rights and responsibilties of the media," he says.
"It can only benefit all of us if allegations and complaints go through a process which gives a fair and objective space for the complainant and media owner to present their points of view. The ruling of a tribunal provides a more democratic way past the often emotional and other side-issues around the complaint itself, and can help all of us to more clearly see and understand the nature of media's roles and responsibilities. It's a win-win situation."
"We are witnessing a new Tonga being born -- similarly, a stronger democracy needs to be served by a stronger media. It's timely that the winds of change sweeping through Tonga are also now indicating the need for a contestable media complaints process which can help all Tongans understand the nature of media freedom and responsibilitiy," says Laumaea.
"It is with sadness and dismay that we learn of the further delay by Tonga's current government on Broadcom's application for the FM 88.5 frequency," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "The application, coming in the wake of the FM 88.1 licensee wanting his license back, would have given 12 Tongan media workers--some of them leading journalists with decades of experience, the chance to keep Tonga's people informed at a critical time in their history."
"We can only urge the government of Tonga to enforce a timely and transparent process on license applications from all media operators who like Broadcom are awaiting decisions. It should not take more than 12 months, or a change of government, for a decision to be made."
"As we enter the festive season, our thoughts are with our 12 colleagues and their families, forced off air by allegations and complaints which never stood the test of a complaints process. What an irony for a media organisation which has contributed much to public debate and discussion leading to the historical November 25th elections, that it should now be shut down and its listeners shut out, without any fair hearing on the complaints made."-ENDS
CONTACT:
Tonga Broadcom: Katalaina Tohi, 676-7714826
PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com
The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
The FM station was shut down on December 4, a day after the owner of its broadcasting license cut short the agreed timeframe for its return and wanted it back, citing complaints against program content as one of the reasons for his decision. The operating company for FM ONE,Broadcom Ltd, was set up by Maka and Katalaina Tohi, both former employees of the state owned national broadcaster. The Tohi's and Broadcom have been waiting on the outcome of their application for a license to Tonga's government since last year, and had been broadcasting using a license owned by Taimi Media Group's Kalafi Moala.
Moala rejects any notion that government pressure made him decide to take back his license from Broadcom before the agreed end date of January 2011. In new developments, Broadcom's application for another available FM frequency in Tonga is undergoing more delays by the outgoing government.
"Until a complaint over material is seriously looked into by a tribunal representing the public interest, the current situation is confusing. The complaints never seem to move beyond being serious allegations against media operators whose bread and butter is information," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"Without putting a complaint or the information that started it all under investigation, there is nothing there to help Tongans, let alone Tongan journalists, understand the rights and responsibilties of the media," he says.
"It can only benefit all of us if allegations and complaints go through a process which gives a fair and objective space for the complainant and media owner to present their points of view. The ruling of a tribunal provides a more democratic way past the often emotional and other side-issues around the complaint itself, and can help all of us to more clearly see and understand the nature of media's roles and responsibilities. It's a win-win situation."
"We are witnessing a new Tonga being born -- similarly, a stronger democracy needs to be served by a stronger media. It's timely that the winds of change sweeping through Tonga are also now indicating the need for a contestable media complaints process which can help all Tongans understand the nature of media freedom and responsibilitiy," says Laumaea.
"It is with sadness and dismay that we learn of the further delay by Tonga's current government on Broadcom's application for the FM 88.5 frequency," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "The application, coming in the wake of the FM 88.1 licensee wanting his license back, would have given 12 Tongan media workers--some of them leading journalists with decades of experience, the chance to keep Tonga's people informed at a critical time in their history."
"We can only urge the government of Tonga to enforce a timely and transparent process on license applications from all media operators who like Broadcom are awaiting decisions. It should not take more than 12 months, or a change of government, for a decision to be made."
"As we enter the festive season, our thoughts are with our 12 colleagues and their families, forced off air by allegations and complaints which never stood the test of a complaints process. What an irony for a media organisation which has contributed much to public debate and discussion leading to the historical November 25th elections, that it should now be shut down and its listeners shut out, without any fair hearing on the complaints made."-ENDS
CONTACT:
Tonga Broadcom: Katalaina Tohi, 676-7714826
PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com
The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
Wednesday 1 December 2010
Pohiva offers new momentum to media freedom in Pacific: PFF
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Signs that Tonga's new leadership will look into clarifying the status of a longtime entry ban on New Zealand journalist Michael Field are being welcomed by the Pacific Freedom Forum, or PFF.
In one of his first interviews after a landslide win to his Democratic Party last week, party leader Akilisi Pohiva said the ban on Field was a bad move, and that media freedom is an 'important part of democracy'. However, the ban was apparently lifted during the hosting of the 2005 Pacific Islands News Association conference in Tonga. Field did not attend.
"We warmly congratulate our media colleague Akilisi Pohiva on his win at the polls in the historic elections held last week in Tonga. His insights and perspectives as a journalist and media leader in Tonga brings a different dimension to his political leadership. It can only boost media awareness by other Pacific leaders", says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"Pohiva's inspiring crusade for transparency and access to information in Tonga has now gained momentum with his election victory. He's holding a fantastic entry point now to remind elected officials everywhere that a free media, able to do its job without fear or favour, is what thriving democracies are all about."
Pohiva is a former broadcaster and publisher imprisoned for contempt of Parliament and charged with sedition during his media career. He's a founding member of Tonga's Human Rights and Democracy Movement and leads the Democratic Party which commanded a majority at the polls on November 25.
"It's early days yet, but there have been encouraging signals of a leadership committed to transparency and we hope it ushers in an open-door policy for media no matter how controversial or sensitive the issue to government officials," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "It's an inspiring example for other Pacific leaders who are watching Tonga."--ENDS
CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
In one of his first interviews after a landslide win to his Democratic Party last week, party leader Akilisi Pohiva said the ban on Field was a bad move, and that media freedom is an 'important part of democracy'. However, the ban was apparently lifted during the hosting of the 2005 Pacific Islands News Association conference in Tonga. Field did not attend.
"We warmly congratulate our media colleague Akilisi Pohiva on his win at the polls in the historic elections held last week in Tonga. His insights and perspectives as a journalist and media leader in Tonga brings a different dimension to his political leadership. It can only boost media awareness by other Pacific leaders", says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"Pohiva's inspiring crusade for transparency and access to information in Tonga has now gained momentum with his election victory. He's holding a fantastic entry point now to remind elected officials everywhere that a free media, able to do its job without fear or favour, is what thriving democracies are all about."
Pohiva is a former broadcaster and publisher imprisoned for contempt of Parliament and charged with sedition during his media career. He's a founding member of Tonga's Human Rights and Democracy Movement and leads the Democratic Party which commanded a majority at the polls on November 25.
"It's early days yet, but there have been encouraging signals of a leadership committed to transparency and we hope it ushers in an open-door policy for media no matter how controversial or sensitive the issue to government officials," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "It's an inspiring example for other Pacific leaders who are watching Tonga."--ENDS
CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
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