Fiji: Fatality highlights news support roles

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- The Pacific Freedom Forum is extending condolences and sympathy to family, friends and media colleagues of the Fiji Times circulations staffer killed in a vehicle accident on Monday 8 August in Fiji.

The deceased has been confirmed as 24-year old Kaveni Korovou, of  Nabouciwa Village in Tailevu. He was part of a Fiji Times collections team doing runs when the vehicle reportedly lost control and overturned in Nalovo, near Nadi. Two other passengers in the vehicle were treated for injuries at the Nadi Hospital. In keeping with tradition, the newspapers management visited Korovou's widow and father as part of the police team relaying the direct news  of his death.

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident and have charged the driver, a 50-year-old Fiji Times employee related to Korovou, with careless driving.

"Korovou was one of many behind the scenes staff who make daily  newspapers such as the Fiji Times a key information source for tens of thousands of readers who have little notion of those who do the behind the scenes work of news delivery," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of  Papua New Guinea.

"We are reminded that news journalists are only a small part of the  many teams involved in news production, and extend our deepest condolences to his colleagues, village, and family at this time of
bereavement,"

It's understood Police are dealing directly with the Fiji Times  newspaper management as Korovou died while on work assignment for the company where he was a casual staffer.

Korovou's funeral arrangements are still being finalised.

"It's our hope that the company's insurance policy covering workplace  and work related accidents will cover Korovou's widow and their two young babies," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"We commend the actions and sensitivity of management so far."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF Chair Titi Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com

PFF 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.