PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- News that the Kiribati newspaper at the centre of a Police
investigation has stopped printing means fewer ways for people there to stay informed says media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba will retain the online edition of the Independent but has stopped print circulation in Kiribati while Police follow up on complaints linking to the newspaper's registration status.
"The loss of their weekly news in print is a blow for readers in Kiribati who don’t have online access, and their leaders need to tell them why a government which has been sitting on media paperwork since last year, has suddenly been able to act so quickly to lay a complaint linked to that paperwork ," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
"Whose interest is being served here? Without a free media to give them answers, the public lose their right to know. "
"PFF reiterates concern over any political motivations behind the processing delays for the registration paperwork and hope the Police will help to quickly and fairly resolve the issue."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says given the current Police complaints stem from a lack of progress on a bureaucratic issue, Kiribati's media-savvy President should take the lead.
"Kiribati gave the Pacific the Biketawa principles on good governance, and a President who has taken the message to the world on sinking islands and climate change," she says. "As someone who uses media powerfully to talk about his people, we urge President Tong to uphold Biketawa's promise and give Kiribati the same free media he enjoys globally."--ENDS
LINKS
News links/coverage
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-22/an-kiribati-paper-force-to-close/4086028
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69061
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/asia-pacific/government-intimidation-forces-closure-of-kiribati-paper-says-editor/965806
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1206/S00545/police-investigate-kiribati-independent.htm
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/kiribati-kiribati-independent-newspaper-shut-down-indefinitely-7993
Kiribati Independent
www.thekiribatiindependent.co.nz/
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.
Friday 22 June 2012
SAMOA: Breast photo highlights news ethics
Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Publication of a frontal image featuring a half-naked teen aged girl on the front page of a newspaper in Samoa has highlighted a dividing line between decency and the public interest, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Printed in the daily Samoa Observer in an April edition which also appears online, the photo showed the naked top half of a 13 year girl with four nipples, a medical condition she was born with. Her family chose to make a plea for public support to cover the costs of corrective surgery. The girl’s face is not shown in the shot, but a mobile phone number for the family is offered, potentially leading to identification of the girl and her family.
“The story was a call for help from the family to meet the costs of corrective surgery and is ethically legitimate, but the image itself raises concerns," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi.
“The fact that the photo was used at all shows a lack of ethical judgment on the part of the daily newspaper and its editorial team,” says Gabi, speaking from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
No complaints were raised in Samoa over the photo or story. Response has been positive, with private donors offering funding for the surgery. The family have thanked the Samoa Observer for publishing the story, on its front page.
However, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says that use of the photo by the Observer highlights difficult choices editors sometimes face in meeting ethical standards over the public interest, decency, and treatment of children.
“At best, use of the photo was questionable, linked to headlines and text which failed to increase public understanding of a medical condition affecting both sexes," says Miller, speaking from Pagopago, American Samoa.
“PFF calls for balance to stories of this nature with an editorial focus on promoting respect and dignity for individuals with conditions such as this. Images and words should never convey a 'freak-show' aspect, especially in the cases of families whose incentive in going public is financial help aimed at giving the child a shot at a normal life."
Under its current Code of Ethics, JAWS, the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa states that “Children under 16 should be free from unnecessary intrusion. Material concerning a child’s private life should be published or broadcast only if there is some exceptional public interest other than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her family or guardian.”
Still listed as a “draft” online, the JAWS code sets the standards for news media in Samoa, says Miller.
“The framing and set up of the photo, its page of publication, and supporting headlines and text, raises editorial questions around decency, taste and intrusion,” states Miller.
"The Samoa Observer is well regarded internationally as a leading voice for independent journalism and this instance highlights the need for well established news media to maintain vigilance over content and ethics standards at all times." --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.
Printed in the daily Samoa Observer in an April edition which also appears online, the photo showed the naked top half of a 13 year girl with four nipples, a medical condition she was born with. Her family chose to make a plea for public support to cover the costs of corrective surgery. The girl’s face is not shown in the shot, but a mobile phone number for the family is offered, potentially leading to identification of the girl and her family.
“The story was a call for help from the family to meet the costs of corrective surgery and is ethically legitimate, but the image itself raises concerns," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi.
“The fact that the photo was used at all shows a lack of ethical judgment on the part of the daily newspaper and its editorial team,” says Gabi, speaking from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
No complaints were raised in Samoa over the photo or story. Response has been positive, with private donors offering funding for the surgery. The family have thanked the Samoa Observer for publishing the story, on its front page.
However, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says that use of the photo by the Observer highlights difficult choices editors sometimes face in meeting ethical standards over the public interest, decency, and treatment of children.
“At best, use of the photo was questionable, linked to headlines and text which failed to increase public understanding of a medical condition affecting both sexes," says Miller, speaking from Pagopago, American Samoa.
“PFF calls for balance to stories of this nature with an editorial focus on promoting respect and dignity for individuals with conditions such as this. Images and words should never convey a 'freak-show' aspect, especially in the cases of families whose incentive in going public is financial help aimed at giving the child a shot at a normal life."
Under its current Code of Ethics, JAWS, the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa states that “Children under 16 should be free from unnecessary intrusion. Material concerning a child’s private life should be published or broadcast only if there is some exceptional public interest other than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her family or guardian.”
Still listed as a “draft” online, the JAWS code sets the standards for news media in Samoa, says Miller.
“The framing and set up of the photo, its page of publication, and supporting headlines and text, raises editorial questions around decency, taste and intrusion,” states Miller.
"The Samoa Observer is well regarded internationally as a leading voice for independent journalism and this instance highlights the need for well established news media to maintain vigilance over content and ethics standards at all times." --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 20 June 2012
Kiribati: PM must step in on media complaint, says PFF
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Kiribati's President Anote Tong should step in and clear the air over the continued failure of his Communications minister to act on registration for a controversial newspaper currently facing Police investigations, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
"With no progress on this issue since PFF raised its concern a month ago, it's now up to the President to get some answers from his own government. A six month bureaucratic delay continues to undermine his credibility while taking away media and information choices from his people." says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"We echo the concerns of Reporters without Borders and others on political interference into independant media. Kiribati gave us the Forum leaders promise to good governance, named after the Biketawa islet where they met back in 2000. This situation provides a timely reminder that Kiribati should now walk the talk on that promise."
The PFF request comes as Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba has resumed printing this month on legal advice which now breaches a government order issued May 18 banning publication until his registration application is cleared.
Korauaba confirmed that Police visited his newspapers Tarawa offices yesterday (Tuesday 19th June), acting on complaints received from the Communications Ministry. He has previously been able to publish after filing documents for registration without problems and his legal advice is that he is still within his rights.
From American Samoa, PFF co chair Monica Miller notes the legislation used to silence the Kiribati Independent also ensures right of reply and balance in journalism by those with grievances over content.
"If President Tong, his government and anyone in Kiribati is unhappy over what they read, see or hear via the media, the same legislation on registration also ensures media operators address complaints of biased coverage. " says Miller.
"In 2000, Kiribati hosted the historical Pacific Forum leaders meeting which paved the way for leaders commitments to good governance and transparency. We urge the President to let media do its work, and bring back the Biketawa promise."--ENDS
LINKS
Pacific Scoop coverage
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/police-visit-kiribati-independent-newspaper-after-publication-resumes/
Kiribati legislation
http://www.paclii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/ki/legis/num_act/nra1997352/nra1997352.html?query=Newspaper
Biketawa Declaration
http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/Biketawa%20Declaration,%2028%20October%2020001.pdf
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.
"With no progress on this issue since PFF raised its concern a month ago, it's now up to the President to get some answers from his own government. A six month bureaucratic delay continues to undermine his credibility while taking away media and information choices from his people." says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"We echo the concerns of Reporters without Borders and others on political interference into independant media. Kiribati gave us the Forum leaders promise to good governance, named after the Biketawa islet where they met back in 2000. This situation provides a timely reminder that Kiribati should now walk the talk on that promise."
The PFF request comes as Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba has resumed printing this month on legal advice which now breaches a government order issued May 18 banning publication until his registration application is cleared.
Korauaba confirmed that Police visited his newspapers Tarawa offices yesterday (Tuesday 19th June), acting on complaints received from the Communications Ministry. He has previously been able to publish after filing documents for registration without problems and his legal advice is that he is still within his rights.
From American Samoa, PFF co chair Monica Miller notes the legislation used to silence the Kiribati Independent also ensures right of reply and balance in journalism by those with grievances over content.
"If President Tong, his government and anyone in Kiribati is unhappy over what they read, see or hear via the media, the same legislation on registration also ensures media operators address complaints of biased coverage. " says Miller.
"In 2000, Kiribati hosted the historical Pacific Forum leaders meeting which paved the way for leaders commitments to good governance and transparency. We urge the President to let media do its work, and bring back the Biketawa promise."--ENDS
LINKS
Pacific Scoop coverage
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/police-visit-kiribati-independent-newspaper-after-publication-resumes/
Kiribati legislation
http://www.paclii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/ki/legis/num_act/nra1997352/nra1997352.html?query=Newspaper
Biketawa Declaration
http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/Biketawa%20Declaration,%2028%20October%2020001.pdf
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 12 June 2012
PNG: Media must take assault threats to Police
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Another assault threat resulting in a TV film crew being forced to delete their footage has taken place in Papua New Guinea over the weekend. Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum is urging media bosses to get involved and support news workers in filing statements to Police.
EMTV journalist Mick Kavera and camera operator Gesoko Adrian were on assignment on Sunday 10 June at the Jackson's airport terminal to film the arrival of illegal immigrants being accompanied by members of the government-appointed investigative Task Force. According to Kavera, Task force members spotted the media crew filming during the mid-morning arrival and approached them, berating them in pidgin for media "misreporting" of their activities and telling them to await a formal statement. Adrian was also told to delete all the footage shot or the camera would be broken and he would be bashed. Some time after he had deleted the footage, the task force members did an about turn and apologised. The EMTV crew was invited to resume filming and complete their assignment.
"We commend the EMTV media crew for stepping forward and breaking the silence and urge their management to support filing of a Police complaint on this and future threats to crew safety on the field," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
She says the apology should not prevent or undermine the rule of law.
"An apology is welcome and should help as a mitigating factor in a Police investigation, but more than anyone the task force members will understand that this alone should rule any investigation out."
"What's important is that the general community and many other media workers get the point that it is criminal and illegal to walk up to journalists and any other law abiding citizen and tell them you will bash them up and break their cameras," she says.
Intimidation and threats against media workers have been previously identified as a key obstacle to better journalism by the new PNG Media Workers Association and is highlighted in a country chapter on PNG in the IFJ Asia Pacific Inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report. PNG's Police media advisor Dominic Kakas told journalists at the launch of the Pacific Press Freedom report on World Press Freedom Day in Port Moresby this year sharing information and experiences on social networking may help media workers, but nothing could be resolved in the legal system until journalists choose to take up their rights to lodge complaints with Police.
"Too often the abuse and intimidation of media professionals going about their jobs is accepted by journalists as part of a 'toughen up' culture of news-gathering. That's a stereotype which plays into the hands of abusers when many journalists just don't understand what is happening may in fact be illegal," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"We acknowledge the challenges involved in breaking the silence and acceptance of abuse, but continue to urge PNG and other Pacific media colleagues to take up their legal rights as citizens and journalists so that the wider community is also educated on what news reporting involves." -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.
EMTV journalist Mick Kavera and camera operator Gesoko Adrian were on assignment on Sunday 10 June at the Jackson's airport terminal to film the arrival of illegal immigrants being accompanied by members of the government-appointed investigative Task Force. According to Kavera, Task force members spotted the media crew filming during the mid-morning arrival and approached them, berating them in pidgin for media "misreporting" of their activities and telling them to await a formal statement. Adrian was also told to delete all the footage shot or the camera would be broken and he would be bashed. Some time after he had deleted the footage, the task force members did an about turn and apologised. The EMTV crew was invited to resume filming and complete their assignment.
"We commend the EMTV media crew for stepping forward and breaking the silence and urge their management to support filing of a Police complaint on this and future threats to crew safety on the field," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
She says the apology should not prevent or undermine the rule of law.
"An apology is welcome and should help as a mitigating factor in a Police investigation, but more than anyone the task force members will understand that this alone should rule any investigation out."
"What's important is that the general community and many other media workers get the point that it is criminal and illegal to walk up to journalists and any other law abiding citizen and tell them you will bash them up and break their cameras," she says.
Intimidation and threats against media workers have been previously identified as a key obstacle to better journalism by the new PNG Media Workers Association and is highlighted in a country chapter on PNG in the IFJ Asia Pacific Inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report. PNG's Police media advisor Dominic Kakas told journalists at the launch of the Pacific Press Freedom report on World Press Freedom Day in Port Moresby this year sharing information and experiences on social networking may help media workers, but nothing could be resolved in the legal system until journalists choose to take up their rights to lodge complaints with Police.
"Too often the abuse and intimidation of media professionals going about their jobs is accepted by journalists as part of a 'toughen up' culture of news-gathering. That's a stereotype which plays into the hands of abusers when many journalists just don't understand what is happening may in fact be illegal," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"We acknowledge the challenges involved in breaking the silence and acceptance of abuse, but continue to urge PNG and other Pacific media colleagues to take up their legal rights as citizens and journalists so that the wider community is also educated on what news reporting involves." -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.
Monday 11 June 2012
Fiji regime's license threat condemned
PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- A threat from the Fiji regime that coverage of people it brands as "opposition" will cost Fiji TV its broadcast license, has been strongly condemned by regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The order not to broadcast comments or pictures of a regime list of "opposition" people including Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry, and Felix Anthony came from Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum two weeks ag, just days after a Fiji TV news bulletin carried a story that had interviews with the deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the Fiji Labour party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry. Both were responding to an earlier story in which constitution commissioner,Taufa Vakatale, had blamed politicians of the past for what she said was Fiji's current state.
Shared with management early last week, the editorial crackdown on what is perceived as 'anti-regime' coverage has put the station on notice that all content in June will be 'monitored' and will influence whether or not Fiji TV's 12-year license will be renewed at the end of this month.
"PFF condemns this demoralising and shameful action by the regime forcing journalists to ditch their ethics and professional integrity when they report for duty, and calls for its immediate retraction," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"The criteria for meeting broadcast requirements should not rely on whether the leaders of the day are weeding out right of reply or balance to their own views. This episode clearly shows that the regime censors may be out of the newsrooms, but their work of keeping journalists gagged by fear for their families, intimidation and self-censorship continues."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says Fiji's journalists are already gagged by the Media Decree and operating in a climate where media leaders are called into 'private' meetings with the Attorney General on a whim whenever he takes exception to news content.
"If the attorney General cannot use his own Media Decree and the regime's media authority to complain about perceived imbalance in reporting, he should revoke it. In the meantime, we stand in solidarity with those colleagues already seeking other jobs because it is becoming impossible to uphold ethics at this time Sadly, we are aware that the Fiji TV meeting has not been the only one in recent weeks and will continue to monitor the regime campaign to stamp out free speech and media in Fiji."-- 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.
The order not to broadcast comments or pictures of a regime list of "opposition" people including Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry, and Felix Anthony came from Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum two weeks ag, just days after a Fiji TV news bulletin carried a story that had interviews with the deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the Fiji Labour party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry. Both were responding to an earlier story in which constitution commissioner,Taufa Vakatale, had blamed politicians of the past for what she said was Fiji's current state.
Shared with management early last week, the editorial crackdown on what is perceived as 'anti-regime' coverage has put the station on notice that all content in June will be 'monitored' and will influence whether or not Fiji TV's 12-year license will be renewed at the end of this month.
"PFF condemns this demoralising and shameful action by the regime forcing journalists to ditch their ethics and professional integrity when they report for duty, and calls for its immediate retraction," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"The criteria for meeting broadcast requirements should not rely on whether the leaders of the day are weeding out right of reply or balance to their own views. This episode clearly shows that the regime censors may be out of the newsrooms, but their work of keeping journalists gagged by fear for their families, intimidation and self-censorship continues."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says Fiji's journalists are already gagged by the Media Decree and operating in a climate where media leaders are called into 'private' meetings with the Attorney General on a whim whenever he takes exception to news content.
"If the attorney General cannot use his own Media Decree and the regime's media authority to complain about perceived imbalance in reporting, he should revoke it. In the meantime, we stand in solidarity with those colleagues already seeking other jobs because it is becoming impossible to uphold ethics at this time Sadly, we are aware that the Fiji TV meeting has not been the only one in recent weeks and will continue to monitor the regime campaign to stamp out free speech and media in Fiji."-- 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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