PFF welcomes new regional coordinator

Fiji publisher/freelancer Ricardo Morris

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Fiji journalist and media freelancer Ricardo Morris has become the new face of regional media rights and monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Morris, a Suva-based freelance journalist and publisher of Republika Magazine, is a founding member of the PFF and takes up the voluntary role from outgoing coordinator Jason Brown, of the Samoa Observer.
"We welcome the commitment and leadership of our new coordinator and the insights that he will bring to the regional and global media monitoring networks," says PFF Chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller from American Samoa, noted the tasks facing the new coordinator.
"It is no small ask for anyone to accept the hat of leading the direction, engagement and focus for PFF's efforts to speak out on free speech, free media. Ricardo
takes on the role not just at an important time for media in his country, but for regional media as a whole."
"PFF's direct links to practising Pacific journalists across the region continues to show us that as the watchdog industry, we need to be vigilant of the people's right to know, even as we must strengthen processes for the people's right to let us know what they think of news ethics and media standards," she said.
In his role as Coordinator, Morris will be leading drafting work and engagement with a range of PFF partners. He will also advise on advocacy and partnership projects with PFF members around ethics and self-regulation and lead PFF's Pacific hosting of the annual red-letter day for journalists, World Press Freedom Day, every May 3. --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

PFF Coordinator: Email | ricardomorris@gmail.com or Mobile | +679 9041215

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.

Fiji: Regional media leader steps into Fiji's Media Decree body

The Pacific Freedom Forum says a key media appointment in Fiji will influence how freedom of expression is promoted in the Pacific Island country.
The comment from PFF Chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea follows reports that the current head of the Pacific Islands News Association, Mr Matai Akauola, has been named as the new Director of Fiji’s Media Industry Development Authority.
The PFF , Gabi said,  will continue to engage with Mr Akauola, and other stakeholders, on the need to protect the public’s right to express their views.
"With his wealth of experience and having worked with Pacific media for seven years as PINA Coordinator, Akauola can make a big impact in shaping the future direction of Fiji media."
Co-chair, Monica Miller, a former President of PINA is confident the regions main media organisation will have no trouble finding a coordinator who will uphold the principles that PINA stands for, media freedom being a pivotal one.
"PFF thanks Akauola for his service and wishes him a bright future in his new role. We also remain hopeful of deepening our already existing ties with PINA on media ethics and independance," said Miller.
Many members of the PFF are also members of PINA, with PFF founding co-chair Monica Miller also serving as a former PINA President. Miller has been the only female president of PINA in its 30-year history.
Fiji has been without an elected government since a military takeover in December 2006, with the first elections currently set for 2014.--ENDS

LINKS:
Fiji Broadcasting Corp: ‎http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/13785/mida-director-appointed-

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.

Registration shock in Samoa–PFF

JAWS members at a WPFD event, now deregistered.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands -

Regional media monitoring the Pacific Freedom Forum has welcomed news that Samoa's media body will be re-registered before the end of the year.

Jaws is the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa, one of the region’s oldest bodies, registered 1st September 1991.

News that JAWS was deregistered came as a shock to regional media colleagues as the details behind the move were unclear.

"JAWS is seen by Pacific colleagues as a leading national media association and its active and feisty membership has set a standard many smaller nations can only dream of," said PFF chair Titi Gabi.

"While we welcome news of paperwork and other details being the focus of a new revised JAWS, we remain cautious over the state plans to legislate on media complaints and await further information in that area."

The PFF position supported by regional and global development partners calls for independent journalism and reporting in the public interest.

PFF launched a concept for a Pacific regional media Ombudsman in May and has already seen interest from five Pacific countries in the notion of a regional ethics and standards watchdog.

The concept will be discussed at a Pacific broadcasters meeting this month in Vanuatu, and is also being researched as part of a scoping study involving PFF, UNESCO and the UNDP Pacific.

"It's important that where possible, our national bodies such as JAWS be fostered to promote media autonomy and integrity....and that where the media industry may be unable to self-regulate because of size and interest, an effective and supported regional mechanism can help out," said PFF Co-chair, Monica Miller.

LINKS :

 

JAWS deregisters

Former President of J.A.W.S refutes claim

JAWS drops demands for full two years

President defends conflict of interest

SAMOA: Journalism association shuts down amid new moves to control media

CONTACTS :

PFF Chair
Titi Gabi
Freelance Journalist
Papua New Guinea
+67573143929
titi.gabipng@gmail.com

PFF co-Chair
Monica Miller
KHJ Radio
American Samoa
+6842584197
monica@khjradio.com

PFF Coordinator
Jason Brown
Samoa Observer
Samoa
+6857604412
subeditor@samoaobserver.ws

ABOUT PFF :

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.

We are registered as an incorporated society in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

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