Talking journalist ‘targeting’ and Papuan media on World Press Freedom Day
Author profile: Pacific Media Watch By Craig Major School of Communication Studies Professor and Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie marked World Press Freedom Day last week with a seminar covering the “targeting” and killing of Journalists, as well as the state of the media in West Papua. During a seminar on Friday 3 May to […]
Read More →About the Pacific Media Centre
Author profile: Pacific Media Centre Informed journalism and media research Informed journalism and media research contributes to economic, political and social development and AUT University’s Pacific Media Centre – Te Amokura – seeks to stimulate research into contemporary Māori, Pasifika and ethnic diversity media and culture production. The PMC, founded in 2007, also collaborates with […]
Read More →Facebook still censors West Papua photo – ‘nudity’ or politics?
The Facebook “censored” Ben Bohane image after a “facelift” by the Vanuatu Daily Post. Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Facebook has censored a West Papuan image by a Vanuatu-based photojournalist for the second time in less than four days – this time “within one minute” after the photograph was posted. Port Vila resident Ben Bohane has […]
Read More →Life on Fiji’s Rabi Island – simple, peaceful and full of smiles
Hele Ikimotu’s “peace in Rabi” video reflections. Video: Pacific Media Centre By Hele Ikimotu on Rabi Island, Fiji Our trip to Rabi was a long journey, first starting with a bus ride from Suva, driving straight onto a ferry in Natovi and arriving in Nabouwalu. That trip alone was about seven to eight hours. From […]
Read More →Former Speaker sentenced to 15 years in prison in Indonesia’s e-ID graft case
Former Speaker Setya Novanto (left) attending a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court. Image: Dhoni Setiawan/Jakarta Post By Kharishar Kahfi in Jakarta The Jakarta Corruption Court judges today sentenced former House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of graft. Reading out the court’s verdict, presiding judge Yanto […]
Read More →Watchdog role of media highlighted in USP journalism talk
Dr Shailendra Singh … “news media is an important and a crucial pillar of democracy.” Image: Solomon Star By Ronald Tito’ona in Honiara Local journalists in the Solomon Islands have been again reminded of their watchdog role by keeping the government accountable in the fight against corruption. Head of the University of South Pacific journalism strand […]
Read More →Ben Bohane: China? No, let’s face the elephant in the Pacific room
BRIEFING: By Ben Bohane in Port Vila China … China … China … All the talk is of increasing Chinese influence in our region. But this is to wilfully see past the elephant in the room. Contrary to most commentary, the biggest destabilising player in Melanesia over the past five years is not China but […]
Read More →Public broadcasting and an advocate’s ‘disaster readiness’ revival mission
TRIBUTE: By Geoff Lealand in Auckland David Beatson, broadcaster, editor, journalist, public intellectual and media visionary, proposed a new, or renewed, role for New Zealand public broadcasting in anticipating and managing risk – such as natural disasters and technological crises, says an academic in his public tribute. Speaking at an inaugural memorial lecture in Ponsonby […]
Read More →Fiji’s provident fund frees up $5.3m for natural disaster assistance
A spate of tropical cyclones has hit Fiji and other Pacific Islands in the past few months, causing widespread damage and flooding in low-lying areas. Image: Dept of Information/Wansolwara By Wansolwara News staff The Fiji National Provident Fund has released $5.33 million in flood assistance funds to 6351 members in the aftermath of two recently […]
Read More →Vanuatu pressing ahead with Ambae volcano island evacuation plan
A file photo of the last Ambae evacuation in September 2017. Image: Vanuatu Daily Post By Len Garae in Port Vila Vanuatu is still pressing ahead with its plan to evacuate Ambae island for the second time in six months in the face of rumbling and ash-spewing from Mt Lombenden volcano. A government delegation comprising […]
Read More →‘Great relief’ for rights advocates after Philippines ‘releases’ Australian nun
Sister “Pat” Fox … “her duty to protect anyone who was oppressed or poor.” Image: Rappler By Jean Bell in Auckland Detained Australian missionary Sister Patricia “Pat” Fox’s “release” by the Philippines Bureau of Immigration has been greeted with relief by human rights advocates Peter Murphy, chair of the International Coalition for Human Rights in […]
Read More →USP students raise Pacific climate change awareness using cellphones
Bearing Witness talks to ePOP climate change video makers. Video: Pacific Media Centre By Hele Ikimotu with visuals by Blessen Tom in Suva Ten students from the University of the South Pacific have captured the effects of climate change on their smartphone devices. The task was organised through an eParticipatory Observers Project (ePOP) workshop last […]
Read More →USP celebrates 50 years and leads research action on climate change
Bearing Witness crew Blessen Tom and Hele Ikimotu’s video story of USP’s ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations and climate change. Video: AUT Pacific Media Centre By Hele Ikimotu with visuals by Blessen Tom in Suva This year, the University of the South Pacific is celebrating 50 years since its opening in Fiji in 1968. The university’s […]
Read More →Solar panels the way to go for Pacific, says USP physics academic
The University of the South Pacific’s lower campus 45kw solar pv power system. Image: Hele Ikimotu/Bearing Witness By Hele Ikimotu in Suva Affordable energy enhances the livelihood of Pacific communities, says an associate professor in physics at the Fiji-based University of the South Pacific. Dr Atul Raturi presented a seminar as part of the Pacific […]
Read More →Dan McGarry: Want to lead in the Pacific? Try listening first
Cathy Wilcox’s Sydney Morning Herald cartoon is a showcase for everything that’s wrong with Australian foreign policy. Cartoon: Cathy Wilcox/SMH/VDP By Dan McGarry in Port Vila The average Australian’s conception of Pacific island nations is so limited it makes some of us wonder if they even want to understand. Our voices—and our reality—have been pointedly […]
Read More →PMC’s radio show features Chinese ‘base’ claim, justice and diabetes
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie blasted some of the global coverage of the alleged Chinese military base plans for Vanuatu, describing it as speculative and “scaremongering”. He praised the Vanuatu Daily Post for giving the other side of the story and media director Dan McGarry for his in-depth “baseless […]
Read More →Diabetes ‘ongoing disaster’ tops Fiji health bill at $124 million
The increasing number of diabetes cases has raised red flags in the health sector, a burden Fiji health authorities hope to tackle through the media. Image: Creative Commons/Wansolwara By Adi Ana Civavonovono in Suva The estimated financial cost and economic burden of diabetes in Fiji reached a staggering $124 million (NZ$84 million) in 2014 with […]
Read More →O’Neill government suffers first election court rebuff in Bougainville
A delighted Sam Akoitai (in red tie) outside the National Court yesterday after winning back his Central Bougainville seat in the National Parliament. Photo: Sally Pokiton/Loop PNG Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Bougainville Affairs Minister Fr Simon Dumarinu has been ousted by four votes as the first casualty of the Peter O’Neill government in Papua New […]
Read More →Baseless rumours: why talk of Chinese military base in Vanuatu misses point
How the Vanuatu Daily Post reacted to the Australian “news” of a possible Chinese military base plan. Image: VDP BRIEFING: By Dan McGarry in Port Vila The “news” this week that Vanuatu was to be the site of a Chinese military base caught most people by surprise. Government officials with detailed knowledge of relevant matters […]
Read More →Bearing Witness students win big at AUT communications studies awards
Spasifik Magazine’s Laumata Lauano (from left) with winners Julie Cleaver, Kendall Hutt, and Pacific Media Centre’s chair Associate Professor Camille Nakhid and Storyboard donor Professor David Robie (rear) at last night’s AUT communication studies awards. Image: Del Abcede/PMC By Jean Bell in Auckland Bearing Witness climate change project students won big last night at the […]
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