EDITORIAL: Melanesian media freedom (original) (raw)
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Pacific Journalism Review, 2020
This article advances discussions on media freedom and media development in Melanesia through the introduction of an 'external' and 'internal' threats analytical framework. Singling out the challenges and categorising them into these two main groups provides a clearer picture of the issues at stake, the links between them, and the need to address the situation holistically. External threats emanating from outside the media sector are often seen as more serious, and they often overshadow internal threats, which come from within the media sector. This article argues that both sets of threats have serious impacts on media and journalism in their own ways, and that both should be regarded equally. Furthermore, the linkages between these threats mean that one cannot be properly addressed without addressing the other. A key outcome of this discussion is a clearer understanding of how little control the media have over both external and internal threats, and how stakeholder support is needed to overcome some of the issues. Because good journalism benefits the public, this article argues for increased public support for high-quality journalism that delivers a public benefit.
West Papua and human rights journalism A Melanesian media freedom case study
2019
While preparing this pre-Melanesia Media Freedom Forum (MMFF) conference keynote, I have just returned to the Pacific from four weeks in Iran where media freedom is in dire straits. Iran has been described by the latest Reporters Without Borders global index on press freedom as “one of world’s most repressive countries for journalists for the past 40 years”. State control of news and information is unrelenting and at least 860 journalists and citizen-reporters have been imprisoned or executed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution (RSF, 2019a). Media within the country lack the resources to report freely and independently with journalists subjected to intimidation, arbitrary arrest and unfair trials by revolutionary courts. Iran is ranked 170th among 180 countries, a drop of six places since last year. Just three months ago, RSF protested against the arrest of Farangis Mazloom, mother of the watchdog’s 2017 press freedom laureate Soheil Arabi (RSF. 2019b). In fact, Iran is currently the world’s worst jailer of women journalists – 10 currently are behind bars (RSF, 2019c). However, barely had I had been back in New Zealand for a few days than the major Australian newspapers were self-censoring their front pages, redacting complete sections stamped with red “secret – not for release” logos. In a rare demonstration of unanimity, the news media were protesting against strict national security legislation. - Pre-conference address for the Melanesia Media Freedom Forum (MMFF), South Bank Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Pacific Journalism Monographs : Te Koakoa: Ngā Rangahau, 2017
Ricardo Morris, a journalist and Thomson Reuters fellow from Fiji, has studied the perceptions and practice of self-censorship among journalists from his country in the years following the military coup in December 2006. He focused particularly on the period after the 2014 general election that returned Fiji to democratic rule. In his research paper, Morris examines how willing Fiji's media workers are to self-censor, how self-censorship works in newsrooms, and what factors are influential on journalists' work. Here is how Morris describes his research: The results from my survey showed a slight leaning toward self-censorship, although generally it bordered on neutrality. However, this contrasted with the responses to follow-up questions where respondents explained how self-censorship took place in various newsrooms. It would appear that while in practice self-censorship does occur regularly, journalists in Fiji would in theory prefer it does not happen or actually believe that it does not occur. The results could also mean that even if journalists do not self-censor, editorial processes and decision-making result in self-censorship manifesting in other ways and at other levels. Perhaps an unavoidable outcome of Fiji's draconian media law is the normalising of self-censorship among its journalists. When asked about their role perceptions, Fiji's journalists without fail indicate factors such as fairness and balance, independence and fearlessness, but the perception and the practice appear to be disconnected. Media capture' is well and truly embedded in many sectors of the media, and it will take time, attitudinal change and legal amendments to undo this. Despite this, journalists still hang on to some veneer of their detached watchdog role while forging a media model that accords with the mood of the times: nation-building, ethnic harmony and development ideals.
Key Melanesian media freedom challenges: Climate crisis, internet freedoms, fake news and West Papua
Pacific Journalism Review, 2020
Melanesia, and the microstates of the Pacific generally, face the growing influence of authoritarian and secretive values in the region—projected by both China and Indonesia and with behind-the-scenes manipulation. There is also a growing tendency for Pacific governments to use unconstitutional, bureaucratic or legal tools to silence media and questioning journalists. Frequent threats of closing Facebook and other social media platforms and curbs on online freedom of information are another issue. While Pacific news media face these challenges, their support networks are being shaken by the decline of Australia as a so-called ‘liberal democracy’ and through the undermining of its traditional region-wide public interest media values with the axing of Radio Australia and Australia Network television. Reporting climate change is the Pacific’s most critical challenge while Australian intransigence over the issue is subverting the region’s media. This article engages with and examines these challenges and also concludes that the case of West Papua is a vitally important self-determination issue that left unresolved threatens the security of the region.
The Post-Courier and media advocacy: A new era for Papua New Guinean journalism?
Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 2007
The Papua New Guinea media is often described as ‘free’ and ‘vibrant’ compared to other media in developing countries in the region. The style of journalism and the news values are based on the Western model familiar in developed countries, where objectivity is one of the conventions of journalism practice. This is a result of influence on the PNG media by Western news values through a history of ownership of the local media and training in journalism provided at the workplace and at journalism schools in PNG. However, the coverage of two major national issues by PNG’s national daily Post-Courier has signalled a shift in reportage style in PNG to one of advocacy journalism. The two major issues are the National Superannuation Fund of Papua New Guinea (NASFUND) corruption crisis and an anti-gun campaign. Although at present both issues have dropped out of the media, they have yet to reach satisfactory conclusions. The prosecution of people involved in the NASFUND mis-management is p...
Frontline reporting, ethos and perception: Media challenges in the South Pacific
Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 2008
The Melanesian sub-region of the South Pacific, in particular, has been branded by some political analysts as an ‘arc of instability’ because of upheavals such as coups (Fiji), ethnic conflict (Solomon Islands), paramilitary revolts (Vanuatu), and secessionist rebellion and civil war (Bougainville-Papua New Guinea and the Southern Highlands). Simplistic notions and prejudices about the region pose challenges for journalists attempting to report with depth, context and analytical skill. Pressures and dilemmas for the news media continue to gain momentum in the South Pacific, often from a cultural as well as socio-political dimension. While the media in some countries is refreshingly outspoken and courageous, in others it has a trend towards self-censorship. This article critiques coverage in the region and some of the problems in an age of globalisation and preoccupation with security. It also sketches the challenges for media education designed to contest images of the region beyond ‘coups, conflicts and contraband’.
This Discussion Paper looks at the shifting media landscapes in four Melanesian countries in 2015 — Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It charts and links the key developments, and considers their potentially wide-ranging impacts on policy, politics, free speech and good governance. Of the many profound and rapid changes experienced in 2015, some of the most significant can be linked to the growing use and influence of social media. This is discernable from internet statistics, research reports, media advocacy group statements, news items and the reaction of governments (see Internet World Stats 2015; International Federation of Journalists 2015; Pacific Freedom Forum 11/4/2015; Radio New Zealand International 16/10/2015; Reporters Without Borders 2015; Shing 4/7/2015; Tahana 21/1/2015; Tarai et al. 2015; The National 27/3/2015; UNESCO 2015; Wood 22/1/2015). The social media trend included the international phenomenon known as ‘citizen journalism’, which is evidently picking up pace in Melanesia. Bowman and Willis (2003) describe citizen journalism as citizens ‘playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analysing and disseminating news and information’, ranging from commenting on an existing news piece to publishing an article. The social media tools include podcast, photo or video on a personal blog, Twitter or Facebook. The trends in 2015 indicate that social media and citizen journalism in Melanesia offer both opportunities and threats to the mainstream media sector. Melanesian governments, apparently alarmed by the proliferation of inflammatory and abusive material on social media, and the potentially destabilising impact on their comparatively small and fragile societies, are proposing harsher controls.
Pacific Journalism Review, 2018
Auckland University of Technology’s Pacific Media Centre marked its tenth anniversary with a wide-ranging public seminar discussing two of the region’s most critical media freedom crises. The ‘Journalism Under Duress in Asia-Pacific’ seminar in November 2017 examined media freedom and human rights in the Philippines and in Indonesia’s Papua region, generally known as West Papua. The introduction to the PMC seminar, later presented at a Reporters Without Borders summit for Asia-Pacific freedom advocates and activist journalists in Paris in July 2018 examined the culture of impunity over crimes against journalists and journalism safety as a major factor undermining media freedom in the region.