PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- PNG Police force officers and soldiers who ordered local journalists out of the Papua New Guinea Supreme court
yesterday afternoon and forced others to delete images and recordings must face police investigation themselves, says regional
media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Just hours after PFF
released a statement urging political leaders to allow media to do their
work, deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah led a police squad at 2pm into the
Supreme Court house where Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia was presiding.
A PNG FM court reporter was amongst those ordered out of the court house and at least one photographer says he was forced to delete images he was taking.
"Journalists in PNG are already reporting threats and harassment from law enforcers as they try to keep the country informed of the current political and constitutional crisis on top of the elections. We condemn this despicable attack on the watchdog role of the media and the right of the people of PNG to know what is happening" says PFF chair
Titi Gabi.
"We urge the law enforcers and soldiers to uphold the rule of law, and ask their leaders to act
quickly to ensure safety of PNG civilians and media personnel going about their work. We also urge media colleagues ordered to delete material to make statutory declarations to NCD Police so that investigations can begin."
The attempt by Namah to have Injia arrested
and comes after the PNG Supreme court delivered a ruling on Monday 21 May declaring
ousted Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare the legitimate leader of the
country. With Parliament dissolved and the country heading to the polls next month, the timing of the Supreme court ruling and sedition charges against Injia has implications for an already troubled law and order situation.
"There are tremendous pressures on PNG media right now to avoid election corruption and lead investigative coverage and balanced commentary to help voters make sense of it all," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
"PFF and the global media community will continue in solidarity with media colleagues in PNG to record and condemn the illegal use of force and threats against journalists there."--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.
Pacific Freedom Forum is a regional media body, monitoring threats to press freedom and journalism ethics across Oceania.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
PNG: Parties urged to respect media role
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Political camps in
Papua New Guinea's current leadership standoff must respect the independence of
the media, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The call comes
after reports of an unscheduled speech made by ousted Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on the national
broadcaster, NBC, on Monday the 21 May. According to journalists there, a late
night cavalcade from the Somare camp drove into the premises of the National
Broadcaster, NBC around 11pm, demanding that their leader be put on air to
deliver a speech to the nation. He spoke uninterrupted for some 15
minutes, before leaving the station. Earlier the same day, three PNG Supreme Court judges had ruled that he was PNG’s legitimate Prime Minister. The following day, journalists reported Somare and supporters being blocked at the gates
of the Governor General's residence by Police officers supporting his political
opponent and current Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill. Somare’s group were demanding that he and his Cabinet be sworn in."Access to the media and free speech is a cornerstone of democracy and the proactive approach from political leaders to newsrooms is a welcome sign. However, in an election period with editors sensitive to accusations of favouritism from both sides, political camps should respect the independence of the media and the policies in place," says PFF chair Titi Gabi.
Parliament has been dissolved, nominations for candidates are closing off and the polling begins in late June.
"The political situation in PNG is very fluid and many are relying on the mainstream media, especially radio, to present a balanced and factual coverage of events," says Gabi.
"What has essentially taken place is a media-jacking event which could have been potentially volatile. The news value of the situation is noted, but was lost. The demand was for an uninterrupted statement rather than a news interview."
It's understood a staff meeting the following day stressed the need for adherence to the NBC policy of allowing political leaders scheduled airtime only by prior appointment and discussion.
Meanwhile, social network media monitors on PNG continue to voice growing concern over corruption of media and interference in editorial standards. Members of a newly formed PNG Media Workers Association are leading much of the debate and in a WPFD elections reporting workshop, called for vigilance and integrity amongst journalists covering the elections.
"PNG media workers have already delivered a comprehensive media code of ethics with specific reference to elections. It's a great model for the region, but like any model needs ownership and resources to make it happen.," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, from American Samoa.
"If the media ethics codes are not being implemented by media workers especially during elections when editorial balance and independence are critical, the codes of media conduct are meaningless and lead to loss of public trust and confidence. We urge media colleagues to resist pressures for one sided coverage and to raise the alarm on editorial corruption as soon as they see it happen."--ENDS.
LINKS:
Radio Australia http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-05-21/png-supreme-court-backs-somares-return/947610
Outcomes Statement: PNGMWA and IFJ elections reporting workshop
http://www.pngperspective.com/news/outcomes-statement-media-strengthening-elections-and-ethics-reporting-workshop/
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.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Late Cooks PM a free press leader: PFF
PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Members of the Pacific Freedom Forum join the tributes this month to a former prime minister of the Cook Islands. Sir Geoffrey, who privatised state media and initiated regular press briefings during his leadership, died on May 8 after a short illness. He was 71.
Widely respected as a gifted orator whatever the setting, Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry started his first term in 1989 by introducing freedoms of the press. Under his administration government relinquished control of its daily newspaper, Cook Islands News, established 1945. The paper was sold to a former editor who remains part of the newspaper to this day.
“Privatising print media and establishing television under an independent board were landmark decisions,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi. "Cook Islands journalists recall and share moments of high drama and refusal to deal with the rigours of being held under public scrutiny by Sir Geoffrey the individual. But on the whole, his leadership in bringing about the very conditions which allowed investigative journalism to put his decisions under the spotlight should be recognised."
The launch of national television on December 25 1990 was tipped as the government's Christmas gift to the people. A new state broadcasting corporation featured private sector leadership for the first time in dealing with media industry development.
Former TV journalists Jason Brown and Lisa Williams-Lahari confirm the board was not just independent by law, but also independent by deed. Big stories were broken, and major issues exposed. Both have since gone on to become founding members of the Pacific Freedom Forum.
“His decisions back then to modernise-- and then privatise, national news media laid the foundations for a radical increase in the amount of public debate and participation," recalls Brown.
He says the transitions from direct state control to independent operations saw huge changes in governance.
“People at the time feared for their government jobs, contracts or scholarships if they spoke out. At first, most Cook Islanders were too afraid to comment on camera,” says Brown, who is now based in New Zealand.
Contrasting with an often autocratic atmosphere in the early decades of self-government, Henry started weekly press conferences to explain cabinet decisions and answer questions -- even up until the mid-90’s, when a debt crisis during his second term saw Henry under pressure and less keen to answer questions from the press. During that economic “transition”, 2,000 public servants were sacked from a workforce of 3,600.
“No democracy is without controversy, but the original decision by Henry to free up media remains bold and decisive,” says PFF's co chair Monica Miller.
“Rare for the region at the time, Sir Geoffrey was a leader who worked to regain favour for the notion of a Fourth Estate, distinct and independent from the three other estates - government, parliament and the judiciary.”
Henry was Prime Minister for most of the 1990s and had retired from political life by 2006 when the introduction of an Official Information Act saw a later administration build on the greater accountability he had encouraged during his term. He also led a process he termed 'devolution' which moved decision making and public debate away from an overpoweringly central government, and back towards other societal sectors, like traditional leaders, churches, an independent media, business, and the many other public spaces.
“Today, thanks to the conditions -- and the challenges -- Sir Geoffrey helped create for journalists, reporters in the Cook Islands and Cook Islands reporters outside of the homeland provide an often feisty exchange of public view, and debate a healthy range of ethical issues including those on the Pacific Freedom Forum and Pacific Media online networks," recalls Williams-Lahari.
Such contributions by Sir Geoffrey are remembered at PFF with gratitude by those defending press freedoms, she says.--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.
Widely respected as a gifted orator whatever the setting, Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry started his first term in 1989 by introducing freedoms of the press. Under his administration government relinquished control of its daily newspaper, Cook Islands News, established 1945. The paper was sold to a former editor who remains part of the newspaper to this day.
“Privatising print media and establishing television under an independent board were landmark decisions,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi. "Cook Islands journalists recall and share moments of high drama and refusal to deal with the rigours of being held under public scrutiny by Sir Geoffrey the individual. But on the whole, his leadership in bringing about the very conditions which allowed investigative journalism to put his decisions under the spotlight should be recognised."
The launch of national television on December 25 1990 was tipped as the government's Christmas gift to the people. A new state broadcasting corporation featured private sector leadership for the first time in dealing with media industry development.
Former TV journalists Jason Brown and Lisa Williams-Lahari confirm the board was not just independent by law, but also independent by deed. Big stories were broken, and major issues exposed. Both have since gone on to become founding members of the Pacific Freedom Forum.
“His decisions back then to modernise-- and then privatise, national news media laid the foundations for a radical increase in the amount of public debate and participation," recalls Brown.
He says the transitions from direct state control to independent operations saw huge changes in governance.
“People at the time feared for their government jobs, contracts or scholarships if they spoke out. At first, most Cook Islanders were too afraid to comment on camera,” says Brown, who is now based in New Zealand.
Contrasting with an often autocratic atmosphere in the early decades of self-government, Henry started weekly press conferences to explain cabinet decisions and answer questions -- even up until the mid-90’s, when a debt crisis during his second term saw Henry under pressure and less keen to answer questions from the press. During that economic “transition”, 2,000 public servants were sacked from a workforce of 3,600.
“No democracy is without controversy, but the original decision by Henry to free up media remains bold and decisive,” says PFF's co chair Monica Miller.
“Rare for the region at the time, Sir Geoffrey was a leader who worked to regain favour for the notion of a Fourth Estate, distinct and independent from the three other estates - government, parliament and the judiciary.”
Henry was Prime Minister for most of the 1990s and had retired from political life by 2006 when the introduction of an Official Information Act saw a later administration build on the greater accountability he had encouraged during his term. He also led a process he termed 'devolution' which moved decision making and public debate away from an overpoweringly central government, and back towards other societal sectors, like traditional leaders, churches, an independent media, business, and the many other public spaces.
“Today, thanks to the conditions -- and the challenges -- Sir Geoffrey helped create for journalists, reporters in the Cook Islands and Cook Islands reporters outside of the homeland provide an often feisty exchange of public view, and debate a healthy range of ethical issues including those on the Pacific Freedom Forum and Pacific Media online networks," recalls Williams-Lahari.
Such contributions by Sir Geoffrey are remembered at PFF with gratitude by those defending press freedoms, she says.--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.
Kiribati: Govt encouraged to give end-date on newspaper ban
PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The publication ban on the Kiribati Independent newspaper by the current government needs to be followed up by a clear timeframe explaining the registration process, says regional media monitoring watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Editor and founding publisher of the Kiribati Independent, Taberannang Korauaba, was instructed on Friday 18th May to immediately cease publication of his newspaper until his registration application is finalised.
"Having an independent news media service offers important information choices to the people of Kiribati, and effectively that's now been affected by the recent decision. We now have a group of media employees and Independent readers in limbo, without a date clarifying how long they will remain that way," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of PNG.
Korauaba had resumed publishing the Independent on legal advice in March that he could do so as his application had been lodged. He had previously published another, now defunct news title in 2006 the same way, and this had gone unchallenged. The timing of the ban comes in the wake of recent articles in the Independent which have reportedly upset the government of the day.
"The order to cease publishing of the Kiribati Independent as per the Newspapers Act can avoid perceptions of political interference by clarifying to all what the steps are, and how long it will all take," says Gabi.
"On the flip side of asking for answers from government, it's important for members of the public and public figures to know their rights and choices when it comes to commending or complaining about news coverage. We encourage all media outlets in Kiribati to continue giving space in their publications advising on their ethics standards for journalists along with complaints procedures from the public," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"In line with media rights and responsibilities, Pacific governments and communities should be able to access a clear and credible complaints process for their grievances over news content and ethical
standards. Using such a process not only helps keep the watchdogs at their best, it helps avoid perceptions that governments are using policy and law to gag the fourth estate."--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.
Editor and founding publisher of the Kiribati Independent, Taberannang Korauaba, was instructed on Friday 18th May to immediately cease publication of his newspaper until his registration application is finalised.
"Having an independent news media service offers important information choices to the people of Kiribati, and effectively that's now been affected by the recent decision. We now have a group of media employees and Independent readers in limbo, without a date clarifying how long they will remain that way," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of PNG.
Korauaba had resumed publishing the Independent on legal advice in March that he could do so as his application had been lodged. He had previously published another, now defunct news title in 2006 the same way, and this had gone unchallenged. The timing of the ban comes in the wake of recent articles in the Independent which have reportedly upset the government of the day.
"The order to cease publishing of the Kiribati Independent as per the Newspapers Act can avoid perceptions of political interference by clarifying to all what the steps are, and how long it will all take," says Gabi.
"On the flip side of asking for answers from government, it's important for members of the public and public figures to know their rights and choices when it comes to commending or complaining about news coverage. We encourage all media outlets in Kiribati to continue giving space in their publications advising on their ethics standards for journalists along with complaints procedures from the public," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"In line with media rights and responsibilities, Pacific governments and communities should be able to access a clear and credible complaints process for their grievances over news content and ethical
standards. Using such a process not only helps keep the watchdogs at their best, it helps avoid perceptions that governments are using policy and law to gag the fourth estate."--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.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
PNG media pioneer honored on WPFD day
PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The Pacific vanguard of free speech and media freedom continues to rest with individuals who stand up to defend those rights, says regional media freedom
watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea will be noting that largely unresourced reality when she calls for a minute's silence before a WPFD Editors Forum on Media ethics and elections 2012 to be held this morning at Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby. The silence will honour the late Yehiura Hriehwazi,one of Papua New Guinea's leading journalists, who died suddenly on 8 January 2012. Hriehwazi was a fearless advocate for stronger investigative journalism and a founding member of the Pacific Freedom Forum. A print journalist who began his career with the PNG Post Courier in 1981, he reached senior management levels in a prolific career which had taken him across the world and the region whose journalists knew him so well.
UNDP-PNG's Investigative Journalism awardee Haiveta Kivia stressed to regional media colleagues in March 2012, that he owed his success to the powerful mentoring he received from Hriehwazi.
"As we join the global celebrations this May 3 across the dateline, PFF recognises its network, strength and solidarity is derived from the individual passion and commitment of its members. Spread out across the three sub-regions of the Pacific, our media monitors and advocates, like Yehiura, are vigilant of that freedom to do the work of journalism. We are well aware that many governments want to dictate and shape how their nations are informed, even trampling their rights to share opinions and views freely with each other." says the PFF chair.
"Yehiura encouraged solidarity within the media industry because he believed in the power of collective voices standing up for media standards and freedom. His sudden loss is still deeply felt by those of us who continue the work he began," she says.
The joint hosting by the Papua New Guinea Media Workers Association and the International Federation of Journalists of the Pacific World Press Freedom Day event is supported by both groups with additional resources from UNESCO Pacific, UNDP Papua New Guinea, and the IFJ- EU Pacific Media, Human Rights and Democracy project.In the last 12 months, the PFF issued 45 statements on media in the region -- more than half of them coming from Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
"Individuals like Yehi Hriehwazi show that our best Pacific resource is our people. His tireless input and enthusiasm for the work of monitoring media freedom and ethics, helping the PFF to organise and keep a consistent flow of alerts since August 2008, leaves an inspirational lead for us all to follow," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"It is great to see the Pacific WPFD launches happening today in Yehi's home nation. PNG is at a point in its history where the watchdog and independent voice of the media is vital. We join our colleagues in honouring a founding father of the PFF, and extend support and solidarity to those celebrating May 3 across our Pacific community."--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.
PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea will be noting that largely unresourced reality when she calls for a minute's silence before a WPFD Editors Forum on Media ethics and elections 2012 to be held this morning at Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby. The silence will honour the late Yehiura Hriehwazi,one of Papua New Guinea's leading journalists, who died suddenly on 8 January 2012. Hriehwazi was a fearless advocate for stronger investigative journalism and a founding member of the Pacific Freedom Forum. A print journalist who began his career with the PNG Post Courier in 1981, he reached senior management levels in a prolific career which had taken him across the world and the region whose journalists knew him so well.
UNDP-PNG's Investigative Journalism awardee Haiveta Kivia stressed to regional media colleagues in March 2012, that he owed his success to the powerful mentoring he received from Hriehwazi.
"As we join the global celebrations this May 3 across the dateline, PFF recognises its network, strength and solidarity is derived from the individual passion and commitment of its members. Spread out across the three sub-regions of the Pacific, our media monitors and advocates, like Yehiura, are vigilant of that freedom to do the work of journalism. We are well aware that many governments want to dictate and shape how their nations are informed, even trampling their rights to share opinions and views freely with each other." says the PFF chair.
"Yehiura encouraged solidarity within the media industry because he believed in the power of collective voices standing up for media standards and freedom. His sudden loss is still deeply felt by those of us who continue the work he began," she says.
Gabi, who has
initiated a new national media workers union
to refocus attention to the Pacific's largest country-level industry
group, says the current outreach drive of PNG Media Workers Association has
revealed that journalists continue to feel isolated and alone when threats
occur to their journalism practice, livelihoods or personal safety.
"Levels of
self-censorship, depending on where journalists live, continue to be a strong
threat to media freedom in our part of the world. What we are seeing at
regional and national level is a growing awareness that we can be stronger with
a unified voice -- and today is a timely moment to honour Pacific colleagues
who have paved the way." she says.The joint hosting by the Papua New Guinea Media Workers Association and the International Federation of Journalists of the Pacific World Press Freedom Day event is supported by both groups with additional resources from UNESCO Pacific, UNDP Papua New Guinea, and the IFJ- EU Pacific Media, Human Rights and Democracy project.In the last 12 months, the PFF issued 45 statements on media in the region -- more than half of them coming from Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
"Individuals like Yehi Hriehwazi show that our best Pacific resource is our people. His tireless input and enthusiasm for the work of monitoring media freedom and ethics, helping the PFF to organise and keep a consistent flow of alerts since August 2008, leaves an inspirational lead for us all to follow," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"It is great to see the Pacific WPFD launches happening today in Yehi's home nation. PNG is at a point in its history where the watchdog and independent voice of the media is vital. We join our colleagues in honouring a founding father of the PFF, and extend support and solidarity to those celebrating May 3 across our Pacific community."--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.
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