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		<title>Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/samoa-editor-says-media-freedom-under-attack-in-response-to-pms-ban/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:19:36 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/samoa-editor-says-media-freedom-under-attack-in-response-to-pms-ban/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist The editor of Samoa’s only daily newspaper barred on Monday from accessing the Prime Minister’s press conferences says media freedom in Samoa is under attack. Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt “temporarily” banned the Samoa Observer from engagements with him and his ministers. In a statement, La’aulialemalietoa said ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/authors/kaya-selby" rel="nofollow">Kaya Selby</a>, <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/" rel="nofollow">RNZ Pacific</a> journalist</em></p>
<p>The editor of Samoa’s only daily newspaper barred on Monday from accessing the Prime Minister’s press conferences says media freedom in Samoa is under attack.</p>
<p>Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/579168/samoan-pm-bans-nation-s-only-newspaper-from-government-access" rel="nofollow">“temporarily” banned</a> the <em>Samoa Observer</em> from engagements with him and his ministers.</p>
<p>In a statement, La’aulialemalietoa said the <em>Observer</em> had been “unfair and inaccurate” in its reporting on him, particularly during his health stay in New Zealand.</p>
<p>“While I strongly support the principles of the public’s right to information and freedom of the media, it is important that reporting adheres to ethical standards and responsible journalism practices, given the significant role and influence media plays in informing our community,” he said.</p>
<p>“There have been cases where stories have been published without sufficient factual verification or a chance for those involved to respond, which I believe is fundamental to fair reporting.”</p>
<p>La’aulialemalietoa pointed to several examples, such as an article regarding the chair he used during a meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, several articles based on leaks from inside the government, and an article “aimed at creating discord during my absence”.</p>
<p>“In the light of these experiences, I have decided to temporarily suspend this newspaper from my press engagements starting today [Monday].”</p>
<p><strong>‘We just want answers’</strong><br />However, <em>Samoa Observer</em> editor Shalveen Chand told RNZ Pacific the newspaper was just doing its job.</p>
<p>“We don’t really have any sides. We just want answers for questions which we believe the people of the nation need to know,” Chand said.</p>
<div class="photo-captioned photo-captioned-full photo-cntr eight_col">
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The Prime Minister’s ban on the Samoa Observer takes up the entire front page of the newspaper’s edition yesterday. Image: Samoa Observer screenshot RNZ</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>“If he has taken the step to ban us, he has just taken a step to stifle media freedom.”</p>
<p>Chand said that the government had a history of refusing to answer or ignoring questions posed by their reporters.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t change the fact that the job that we have to do we will continue doing. We will keep on holding the government accountable. We will keep on highlighting issues.”</p>
<p>“We’re not against the government, we’re not fighting the government. We just want answers.”</p>
<p>The <em>Samoa Observer</em> said it could still access MPs and other officials, and it could still enter Parliament and cover sittings.</p>
<p>But La’aulialemalietoa has reportedly asked his ministers not to engage with the <em>Observer</em> or any of its reporters.</p>
<p>Chand said, so far, there had not been any engagement from the government, and they did not know what they needed to do to have the ban lifted.</p>
<p><strong>Ban ‘disproportionate’ says PINA</strong><br />The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) called the ban “disproportionate and unnecessary”, stating it represented a grave threat to media freedom in the country.</p>
<p>“PINA urges the government of Samoa to immediately reverse the ban and uphold its commitment to open dialogue and transparent governance,” the association said in a statement.</p>
<p>PINA noted that Samoa already had a legally mandated and independent mechanism (the Samoa Media Council) to address concerns about media accuracy, fairness, or ethical conduct.”</p>
<p>The Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) said La’aulialemalietoa’s decision “undermines constitutional rights on media freedom and people’s right to seek and share information”.</p>
<p>“Banning an entire news organisation from press conferences hurts the public interest as people will lose access to independent reporting on matters of national importance,” PFF Polynesia co-chair Katalina Tohi said.</p>
<p>The PFF is urging the Prime Minister “to rethink his actions”.</p>
<p><strong>Confrontation outside PM’s home<br /></strong> On November 16, La’aulialemalietoa said three newspaper reporters and photographers trespassed his home, despite being stopped by police at the gate. Those reporters were from the <em>Samoa Observer</em> and the BBC.</p>
<p>“Their approach was rude, arrogant, invasive and lacked respect for personal privacy.”</p>
<p>But Chand denies that anybody had entered the compound at all, rather accessing the outside of the fence by the road.</p>
<p>“He’s the Prime Minister of Samoa, he’s a key public figure, and we as the press wanted to know how he was.”</p>
<p>As far as what played out afterward, Chand recalled things differently.</p>
<p>“One of my journalists had gone to ask, basically, how his trip had been and if he was doing okay . . .  there was no regular communication with the Prime Minister during his eight-week stay in New Zealand.</p>
<p>“He told the journalist at the gate to come back on Monday, and the journalist was leaving. I had just come to drop off a camera lens for the journalist. I was getting into my car when two men unexpectedly walked out and started to assault me.”</p>
<p>Chand said he had received no explanation for why this had happened.</p>
<p>PMN News reported last night that BBC journalist Dr Mandeep Rai, who witnessed the incident, said the <em>Samoa Observer</em> team acted “carefully and respectfully”, and that the hostile response was surprising.</p>
<p>Ever since, <em>Samoa Observer</em> journalists have been bombarded with online abuse, Chand said.</p>
<p>“Attacks against me have actually doubled and tripled on social media . . .  fake pages, or even people with real pages . . .  it has somewhat impacted my family members a bit,” Chand said.</p>
<p>“But hey, we’re trying to do a job.”</p>
<p><em>This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ</em>.</p>
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		<title>PINA on World Press Freedom Day – facing new and complex AI challenges</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/05/pina-on-world-press-freedom-day-facing-new-and-complex-ai-challenges/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2025 10:19:59 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[By Kalafi Moala in Nuku’alofa On this World Press Freedom Day, we in the Pacific stand together to defend and promote the right to freedom of expression — now facing new and complex challenges in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This year’s global theme is “Reporting a Brave New World: The impact of Artificial ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By Kalafi Moala in Nuku’alofa</em></p>
<p>On this World Press Freedom Day, we in the Pacific stand together to defend and promote the right to freedom of expression — now facing new and complex challenges in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<p>This year’s global theme is “Reporting a Brave New World: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom.”</p>
<p>AI is changing the way we gather, share, and consume information. It offers exciting tools that can help journalists work faster and reach more people, even across our scattered islands.</p>
<p>But AI also brings serious risks. It can be used to spread misinformation, silence voices, and make powerful tech companies the gatekeepers of what people see and hear.</p>
<p>In the Pacific, our media are already working with limited resources. Now we face even greater pressure as AI tools are used without fair recognition or payment to those who create original content.</p>
<p>Our small newsrooms struggle to compete with global platforms that are reshaping the media landscape.</p>
<p>We must not allow AI to weaken media freedom, independence, or diversity in our region.</p>
<p><strong>Respect our Pacific voices</strong><br />Instead, we must ensure that new technologies serve our people, respect our voices, and support the role of journalism in democracy and development.</p>
<p>Today, PINA calls for stronger regional collaboration to understand and manage the impact of AI. We urge governments, tech companies, and development partners to support Pacific media in building digital skills, protecting press freedom, and ensuring fair use of our content.</p>
<p>Let us ensure that the future of journalism in the Pacific is guided by truth, fairness, and freedom — not by unchecked algorithms.</p>
<p>Happy World Press Freedom to all media workers across the Pacific!</p>
<p><em> Kalafi Moala is president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and also editor of Talanoa ‘o Tonga. Republished from TOT with permission.<br /></em></p>
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		<title>Groundbreaking book Waves of Change launched at Pacific Media Conference in Fiji</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2024/07/15/groundbreaking-book-waves-of-change-launched-at-pacific-media-conference-in-fiji/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2024 02:18:52 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[By Jai Bharadwaj of The Australia Today A pivotal book, Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific, has been released at the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference hosted by the University of the South Pacific earlier this month in Suva, Fiji. This conference, the first of its kind in 20 years, served ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By Jai Bharadwaj of <a href="https://www.theaustraliatoday.com.au/" rel="nofollow">The Australia Today</a></em></p>
<p>A pivotal book, <a href="https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/new-book-explores-pacific-media-peace-and-development/" rel="nofollow"><em>Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific</em></a>, has been released at the <a href="https://asiapacificreport.nz/category/pacific-media-conference-2024/" rel="nofollow">2024 Pacific International Media Conference</a> hosted by the University of the South Pacific earlier this month in Suva, Fiji.</p>
<p>This conference, the first of its kind in 20 years, served as a crucial platform to address the pressing challenges and core issues faced by Pacific media.</p>
<p>Associate Professor Shailendra Singh, the convenor of the conference and co-editor of the new book, emphasised the conference’s primary goals — to stimulate research, discussion, and debate on Pacific media, and to foster a deeper understanding of its challenges.</p>
<p>“Our region hasn’t escaped the calamitous impacts of the two biggest events that have shaken the media sector — digital disruption and the covid-19 pandemic,” he said.</p>
<p>“Both events have posed significant challenges for news media organisations and journalists, to the point of being an existential threat to the industry as we know it. This isn’t very well known or understood outside the news media industry.”</p>
<p><em>Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific</em>, authored by Dr Singh, Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad, and Dr Amit Sarwal, offers a comprehensive collection of interdisciplinary research, insights, and analyses at the intersection of media, conflict, peacebuilding, and development in the Pacific – a region experiencing rapid and profound change.</p>
<p>The book builds on Dr Singh’s earlier work with Professor Prasad, <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/INFORMIT.064825088621298" rel="nofollow"><em>Media and Development: Issues and Challenges in the Pacific Islands</em></a>, published 16 years ago.</p>
<p>Dr Singh noted that media issues had grown increasingly complex due to heightened poverty, underdevelopment, corruption, and political instability.</p>
<p>“Media and communication play vital roles in the framing of conflict, security, and development in public and political discourses, ultimately influencing progression or regression in peace and stability. This is particularly true in the era of digital media,” Dr Singh said.</p>
<figure id="attachment_103558" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-103558" class="wp-caption alignnone"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-103558" class="wp-caption-text">Launching the Waves of Change book . . . contributor Dr David Robie (from left), co-editor Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad, PNG Minister of Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu, co-editor Associate Professor Shailendra Singh, and co-editor Dr Amit Sarwal. Image: The Australia Today</figcaption></figure>
<p>Dr Amit Sarwal said that the primary aim of the new book was to address and revisit critical questions linking media, peacebuilding, and development in the Pacific. He expressed a desire to bridge gaps in training, publishing, and enhance practical applications in these vital areas particularly amongst young journalists in the Pacific.</p>
<figure id="attachment_103559" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-103559" class="wp-caption alignright"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-103559" class="wp-caption-text">Winds of Change . . . shedding light on the intricate relationship between media, peace, and development in the Pacific. Image: APMN</figcaption></figure>
<p>Professor Biman Prasad is hopeful that this collection will shed light on the intricate relationship between media, peace, and development in the Pacific. He stressed the importance of prioritising planning, strategising, and funding in this sector.</p>
<p>“By harnessing the potential of media for peacebuilding, stakeholders in the Pacific can work towards a more peaceful and prosperous future for all,” Professor Prasad added.</p>
<p><em>Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific</em> has been published under a joint collaboration of Australia’s Kula Press and India’s Shhalaj Publishing House.</p>
<p>The book features nine chapters authored by passionate researchers and academics, including David Robie, John Rabuogi Ahere, Sanjay Ramesh, Kalinga Seneviratne, Kylie Navuku, Narayan Gopalkrishnan, Hurriyet Babacan, Usha Sundar Harris, and Asha Chand.</p>
<p>Dr Robie is founding editor of <a href="https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/" rel="nofollow"><em>Pacific Journalism Review</em></a>, which also celebrated 30 years of publishing at the book launch.</p>
<p>The 2024 Pacific International Media Conference was organised in partnership with the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN).</p>
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		<title>Time to get in quick for the fast looming deadline for Pacific media conference</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/25/time-to-get-in-quick-for-the-fast-looming-deadline-for-pacific-media-conference/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:17:54 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report Time is running out for media people and academics wanting to tell their innovative story or present research at the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in July. Organisers say the deadline is fast approaching for registration in less than two weeks. Many major key challenges and core problems facing Pacific media are ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://asiapacificreport.nz/" rel="nofollow"><em>Asia Pacific Report</em></a></p>
<p>Time is running out for media people and academics wanting to tell their innovative story or present research at the <a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/2024-pacific-media-conference/" rel="nofollow">2024 Pacific International Media Conference</a> in July.</p>
<p>Organisers say the deadline is fast approaching for registration in less than two weeks.</p>
<p>Many major key challenges and core problems facing Pacific media are up for discussion at the conference in Suva, Fiji, on July 4-6 hosted by <a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/" rel="nofollow">The University of the South Pacific</a> (USP).</p>
<figure id="attachment_96982" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-96982" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/2024-pacific-media-conference/" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-96982 size-full" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/USP-Pacific-Media-Conference-2024-logo-300wide-.jpg" alt="PACIFIC MEDIA CONFERENCE 4-6 JULY 2024" width="300" height="115"/></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-96982" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/2024-pacific-media-conference/" rel="nofollow"><strong>PACIFIC MEDIA CONFERENCE 4-6 JULY 2024</strong></a></figcaption></figure>
<p>“Interest in the conference is very encouraging, both from our partners and from presenters — who are academics, professional practitioners and others who work in the fields of media and society,” conference chair Associate Professor Shailendra Singh of USP told <em>Asia Pacific Report</em>.</p>
<p>“Some very interesting abstracts have been received, and we’re looking forward to more in the coming days and weeks.”</p>
<p>The USP is partnered for the conference by the <a href="https://pina.com.fj/" rel="nofollow">Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)</a> and the <a href="https://asiapacificmedianetwork.memberful.com/" rel="nofollow">Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN)</a>.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot to discuss — not only is this the first Pacific media conference of its kind in 20 years, there has been a lot of changes in the Pacific media sector, just as in the media sectors of just about every country in the world.</p>
<p><strong>Media sector shaken</strong><br />“Our region hasn’t escaped the calamitous impacts of the two biggest events that have shaken the media sector — digital disruption and the covid-19 pandemic.”</p>
<p>Both events had posed major challenges for the news media organisations and journalists — “to the point of even being an existential threat to the news media industry as we know it”.</p>
<p>“This isn’t very well known or understood outside the news media industry,” Dr Singh said.</p>
<p>The trends needed to be examined in order to “respond appropriately”.</p>
<p>“That is one of the main purposes of this conference — to generate research, discussion and debate on Pacific media, and understand the problems better.”</p>
<p>Dr Singh said the conference was planning a stimulating line-up of guest speakers from the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
<figure id="attachment_98776" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-98776" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-98776 size-full" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Manoa-Kamikamica-Wiki-300tall.png" alt="Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister and Communications Minister Manoa Kamikamica" width="300" height="400" srcset="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Manoa-Kamikamica-Wiki-300tall.png 300w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Manoa-Kamikamica-Wiki-300tall-225x300.png 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-98776" class="wp-caption-text">Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Communications Minister Manoa Kamikamica . . . chief guest for the 2024 Pacific Media Conference. Image: MFAT</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Chief guest</strong><br />Chief guest is Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, who is also Communications and Technology Minister.</p>
<p>The abstracts deadline is April 5, panel proposals are due by May 5, and July 4 is the date for final full papers.</p>
<p><em>Key themes include:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Media, Democracy, Human Rights and Governance</li>
<li>Media and Geopolitics</li>
<li>Digital Disruption and Artificial Intelligence (AI)</li>
<li>Media Law and Ethics</li>
<li>Media, Climate Change and Environmental Journalism</li>
<li>Indigenous and Vernacular Media</li>
<li>Social Cohesion, Peace-building and Conflict-prevention</li>
<li>Covid-19 Pandemic and Health Reporting</li>
<li>Media Entrepreneurship and Sustainability</li>
</ul>
<p>Email abstracts to the conference chair: <a href="mailto:shailendra.singh@usp.ac.fj" rel="nofollow">Dr Shailendra Singh</a></p>
<p>Full details at the conference website: <a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/2024-pacific-media-conference/" rel="nofollow">www.usp.ac.fj/2024-pacific-media-conference/</a></p>
<figure id="attachment_98783" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-98783" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-98783 size-full" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pacific-Media-Conference-logo-NEW-680wide.png" alt="The 2024 Pacific International Media Conference poster" width="680" height="675" srcset="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pacific-Media-Conference-logo-NEW-680wide.png 680w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pacific-Media-Conference-logo-NEW-680wide-300x298.png 300w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pacific-Media-Conference-logo-NEW-680wide-150x150.png 150w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pacific-Media-Conference-logo-NEW-680wide-423x420.png 423w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-98783" class="wp-caption-text">The 2024 Pacific International Media Conference poster. Image: USP</figcaption></figure>
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		<title>PNG’s Masiu warns USP journalism students to defend free press</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2023/11/28/pngs-masiu-warns-usp-journalism-students-to-defend-free-press/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2023 12:18:02 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[By Monika Singh in Suva Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of any vibrant democracy and society’s collective responsibility to safeguard and protect it, says Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu. Masiu was chief guest at the 2023 University of the South Pacific Journalism Student Awards function held in ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By Monika Singh in Suva</em></p>
<p>Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of any vibrant democracy and society’s collective responsibility to safeguard and protect it, says Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu.</p>
<p>Masiu was chief guest at the 2023 University of the South Pacific Journalism Student Awards function held in Suva on Friday evening.</p>
<p>“The USP Journalism Awards not only recognises excellence in reporting, but also the commitment to ethical journalism, unbiased storytelling, and the pursuit of truth,” said Masiu.</p>
<p>“In an era where information flows abundantly, the responsibility of journalists to uphold these principles has never been more critical.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_95023" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-95023" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-95023 size-full" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-cheque-USP-680wide.jpg" alt="USP cheque presentation" width="680" height="413" srcset="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-cheque-USP-680wide.jpg 680w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-cheque-USP-680wide-300x182.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-95023" class="wp-caption-text">PINA president Kora Nou (left), PNG’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu and USP head of the journalism programme Dr Shailendra Singh during the cheque presentation. Image: Wansolwara News/USP</figcaption></figure>
<p>While recognising the hard work and dedication put in by the student journalists in their stories, Masiu took the time to acknowledge the challenges that journalists face in the pursuit of truth.</p>
<p>“Today, we recognise the hard work, dedication, and exemplary storytelling that have emerged from the vibrant and diverse community of journalists who have made their mark within USP.”</p>
<p>This year 16 students from the USP journalism programme were recognised for their outstanding achievements in journalism.</p>
<p><strong>Sponsorship media</strong><br />The awards this year were sponsored by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), <em>The Fiji Times</em>, <em>Islands Business</em>, FijiLive and Sports World.</p>
<p>“The journalists we celebrate today have embraced this responsibility with vigour, showcasing the power of words and the impact they can have on shaping our world,” said Masiu.</p>
<p>Being a former journalist himself, Masiu said the role of journalism as the Fourth Estate could not be understated — “the role of journalism is pivotal in our society, serving as the watchdog, the voice of the voiceless, and the bridge that connects communities”.</p>
<p>Masiu thanked the journalism school faculty heads and mentors who have guided these aspiring journalists for their dedication in nurturing the next generation of storytellers.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2343" class="wp-caption alignright" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2343"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2343" class="wp-caption-text"/></figure>
<p>“Your influence goes beyond the classroom; it shapes the future of journalism in the Pacific and beyond,” he said.</p>
<p>The event included presentation of a $10,000 cheque by the PNG government to the USP journalism programme as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the USP School of Journalism and the PNG National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on June 19, 2023.</p>
<p>The minister described the collaboration as a testament to recognition that the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise was essential in nurturing the next generation of journalists who would shape the narrative of the Pacific region.</p>
<p><strong>Shared training vision</strong><br />Signifying more than just a formal agreement, he said the MoU represented a shared vision for the future of journalism training and mentoring in the Pacific.</p>
<p>“Through this collaboration, students will have the opportunity to engage with seasoned professionals, gaining insights into the ever-evolving landscape of journalism,” he said.</p>
<p>“I request that the USP School of Journalism or wider USP will have appropriate programmes to upskill or re-train our deserving NBC staff who are non-journalists.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_2346" class="wp-caption alignright" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2346"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2346" class="wp-caption-text"/></figure>
<p>Journalism head Associate Professor Dr Shailendra Singh acknowledged the support from the PNG government for the USP Journalism Program.</p>
<p>Speaking about the USP Journalism Awards, Dr Singh said these were the longest running and most consistent journalism awards in the Pacific in any category.</p>
<p>He paid tribute to the founder of the awards in 1999, former USP journalism head <a href="https://muckrack.com/david-robie-4" rel="nofollow">Professor David Robie</a>, adding that he wished that journalism awards would be revived in Fiji and the region.</p>
<p>“Journalists carry out a crucial function — sometimes it’s a thankless task. Our best journalists should be recognised and helped in their work,” said Dr Singh.</p>
<figure id="attachment_95027" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-95027" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-95027 size-full" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-j-awardees-Wans-680wide.png" alt="Winners of the 2023 USP Journalism Awards" width="680" height="332" srcset="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-j-awardees-Wans-680wide.png 680w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-j-awardees-Wans-680wide-300x146.png 300w, https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/USP-j-awardees-Wans-680wide-533x261.png 533w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-95027" class="wp-caption-text">Winners of the 2023 USP Journalism Awards with PNG’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu (seated centre), flanked by PINA president Kora Nou on his left and journalism programme head Associate Professor Shailendra Singh in Suva on Friday. Image: Wansolwara News</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Winners of the 2023 USP Journalism Awards:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Most Promising First-Year student: <strong>Riya Bhagwan</strong></li>
<li>Best News Reporting: <strong>Aralai Vosayaco</strong> and <strong>Nikhil Kumar</strong></li>
<li>Best Radio Student: <strong>Josepheen Tarianga</strong></li>
<li>Best Television Students: <strong>Nishat Kanti</strong> and <strong>Maretta Putri</strong></li>
<li>Best Sports Reporting: <strong>Sera Navuga</strong></li>
<li>Best Feature Reporting: <strong>Prerna Priyanka</strong> and <strong>Viliame Tawanakoro</strong></li>
<li>Best Regional Reporting: <strong>Lorima Dalituicama</strong></li>
<li>Best Online Reporting: <strong>Brittany Nawaqatabu</strong></li>
<li>Most Outstanding Journalism Student of the Year: <strong>Yukta Chand</strong> and <strong>Viliame Tawanakoro</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Awards sponsored by the Journalism Students Association:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Wansolwara</em> Outstanding Reporting Award: <strong>Ema Ganivatu</strong></li>
<li>Best Inclusive Award, Best Editorial Team, and Best Professional Award: <strong>Nikhil Kumar</strong></li>
<li>Team player Award: <strong>Ivy Mallam</strong></li>
<li>Students Choice Award: <strong>Andrew Naidu</strong></li>
<li>Outstanding Social Service to USP Community: <strong>Rhea Kumar</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><em>Monika Singh</em> <em>is a reporter for <a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/wansolwaranews/news/journalism-students-recognised-for-their-achievements/" rel="nofollow">Wansolwara</a>, the online and print publication of the USP Journalism Programme. Republished in partnership with Wansolwara.</em></p>
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		<title>Remembering broadcaster and journalist Shiu Singh</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/22/remembering-broadcaster-and-journalist-shiu-singh/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:17:53 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[By Ian Johnstone, former manager of RNZ International All across the South Pacific, tribute is being paid to broadcaster and journalist Shiu Singh who has died in his home in Suva, Fiji. The sad news will be carried throughout Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia via media networks such as PACNEWS, which was pioneered and built up ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By Ian Johnstone, former manager of <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/445260/remembering-broadcaster-and-journalist-shiu-singh" rel="nofollow">RNZ International</a></em></p>
<p>All across the South Pacific, tribute is being paid to broadcaster and journalist Shiu Singh who has died in his home in Suva, Fiji.</p>
<p>The sad news will be carried throughout Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia via media networks such as <a href="http://pina.com.fj/?m=news" rel="nofollow">PACNEWS</a>, which was pioneered and built up over years of dedicated hard work by Singh.</p>
<p>In the 1960s, as Singh began a term of service in the RNZAF, his homeland Fiji and many other Pacific colonies of Britain, USA, New Zealand and Australia were preparing to become self-governing or independent, but were hindered because their only communication links were with their colonial masters.</p>
<p>Pacific Islanders heard no news from or about their neighbours, and had no chance to talk with each other, swap advice, exchange experiences.</p>
<p>In the 1970s, Singh, now back in Fiji with a fine reputation as a current affairs broadcaster set about changing that state of affairs.</p>
<p>Soon after helping to establish the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) he took on the daunting task of gathering, editing, compiling and re-distributing Pacific news right across our region. It is largely because of his dedication and professionalism that PACNEWS exists today.</p>
<p>Singh overcame many challenges, including a threat by Fiji’s military government to censor bulletins and destroy the credibility he had worked so hard to establish.</p>
<p>His response was to say goodbye to his beloved Prabha and family and – after a two-day hiatus – resume the much valued PACNEWS from a new home in Vanuatu.</p>
<p>We mourn the passing of an outstanding public broadcaster who gave great service to Pacific people in the course of a distinguished career marked by reliability, honesty, impartiality and extremely hard work.</p>
<p>Vinaka vaka levu, Shiu. May you rest in peace.</p>
<p><em>This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.</em></p>
<p>Article by <a href="https://www.asiapacificreport.nz/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">AsiaPacificReport.nz</a></p>
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		<title>Pacific journos converge in Suva to discuss ‘critical issues’</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2019/09/19/pacific-journos-converge-in-suva-to-discuss-critical-issues/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Asia Pacific Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2019 00:15:49 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[By Wansolwara staff in Suva Twelve leading journalists from 11 Pacific Island countries will converge in Suva, Fiji, this Friday to discuss critical issues affecting the region including climate change and natural disaster relief and recovery and regional security. The one-day “Capstone at The University of the South Pacific” (USP) Laucala Campus marks the culmination of three ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="wpe_imgrss" src="https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Pac-Journo-680w-190919.jpg"></p>
<p><em>By <a href="http://www.wansolwaranews.com/" rel="nofollow">Wansolwara</a> staff in Suva</em></p>
<p>Twelve leading journalists from 11 Pacific Island countries will converge in Suva, Fiji, this Friday to discuss critical issues affecting the region including climate change and natural disaster relief and recovery and regional security.</p>
<p>The one-day “Capstone at The University of the South Pacific” (USP) Laucala Campus marks the culmination of three weeks of dialogue, study and reporting tours of the US undertaken by the journalism fellows covering Honolulu, Washington D.C., Galveston, and San Francisco.</p>
<p>The US State Department-funded tours have been organised and overseen by three Hawaii-based East-West Centre staff: media programme manager Susan Kreifels, senior programme officer Scott Kroeker, and program co-coordinator Katie Bartels.</p>
<p><a href="https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/07/02/usp-journo-students-return-from-successful-solomons-climate-project/" rel="nofollow"><strong>READ MORE:</strong> USP journo students return from Solomons climate storytelling project</a></p>
<p>Besides covering critical issues affecting the Pacific on their tour, the journalism fellows received in-depth skills-based training in fact-checking, open source research methodologies and news literacy and disinformation/propaganda challenges in the local news and social media networks in the region.</p>
<p>The Suva workshop is jointly hosted by the East-West Centre, the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the USP Journalism Programme in Suva.</p>
<div class="td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-content_inlineleft">
<p>&#8211; Partner &#8211;</p>
<p></div>
<p>The workshop will focus on students sharing their “learnings and experiences” from the intensive three weeks of engagement and discussion.</p>
<p>The USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, will also address the fellows.</p>
<p>The coordinator of the USP Journalism Programme Dr Shailendra Singh said he was looking forward to the workshop in which 30 USP journalism students will also participate.</p>
<p>“It’s a great learning opportunity,” said Dr Singh. “I was part of a similar programme earlier this year for journalism academics from around the world — the Study of the US Institute for Scholars fellowship — hosted by the Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of journalism.  It was a marvellous academic and cultural experience.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=2589" rel="nofollow">USP Journalism</a> has played crucial training role in the region for 30 years, with over 300 graduates in prominent media roles in the region and beyond.</p>
<p>The PINA manager Makereta Komai said as a <a href="https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/07/02/usp-journo-students-return-from-successful-solomons-climate-project/" rel="nofollow">regional media organisation, PINA</a> was happy to partner with the East West Centre and USP Journalism in up-skilling Pacific journalists.</p>
<p>“This study tour is a great learning opportunity for the Pacific media to engage and discuss issues directly with US decision makers and see first-hand how the US is implementing policies related to climate change and disaster risk reduction, regional security and issues related to the media.”</p>
<p>As the premier regional organisation representing the interests of media professionals in the Pacific, PINA links together radio, television, newspapers, magazines, online services, national associations and journalism schools in 20 island nations.</p>
<ul>
<li><em>The Pacific Media Centre and Asia Pacific Report have a publishing partnership with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme</em></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Pacific news journalists grapple with challenges of social media, harsh laws</title>
		<link>https://eveningreport.nz/2018/06/14/pacific-news-journalists-grapple-with-challenges-of-social-media-harsh-laws/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Pacific Media Centre]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:01:23 +0000</pubDate>
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<p><strong>BRIEFING:</strong> <em>By Geraldine Panapasa in Suva</em></p>




<p>Like it or not, social media has become part and parcel of almost everyday discussions.</p>




<p>Whether it’s talk about the economy or the latest development and trends, large and influential platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn have become the go-to source for news and information.</p>




<p>Add technological advancements and accessibility to the mix, and one is left with a digitally-empowered society and a media industry grappling with a number of challenges such as fake news, citizen journalism and in some cases, harsh legislation.</p>




<p>Legislation that can either be viewed as a way to clamp down on journalists or to some extent, limit one’s constitutional freedom of speech, expression and publication, or it could be legislation driven by genuine concerns to ensure news and information are accurate, fair and balanced.</p>




<p>The advent of social media, its impact on journalism and the transforming political situations that are evidently changing the way the media operates in the Pacific were at the heart of the discussions at last month’s 5th Pacific Media Summit organised by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.</p>




<p>The May 7-11 event, attended by more than 100 media practitioners and stakeholders, also highlighted other pertinent issues relating to the theme, “Empowering the Media for Digital Challenges”, such as climate reporting; social media impact on financial literacy, women empowerment and the environment; international humanitarian law; gender and the digital media; the role of the media in fighting corruption; and dealing with threats against the media.</p>




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<p>But the biggest concern by far was dealing with the change that social media brought in terms of the traditional dissemination of receiving, consuming, sharing and interpreting news and information.</p>




<p><strong>Overlooking checks</strong><br />The opportunities for social media users to maximise on the platforms to freely exchange information and news, often at times overlooking the checks and balances that journalists practise, have become a concern for some regional governments, who have openly advocated for legislation that curbs the deliberate act of spreading misinformation or hoax messages through traditional forms of print and broadcast news.</p>




<p>Take for instance, Fiji’s highly-controversial Online Safety Act 2018, which recently became law after being passed by Parliament with 27 votes on May 16. It aimed to promote responsible online behaviour and online safety as well as act as a deterrence of harmful electronic communication.</p>




<p>To a large extent, the Act addressed cyberbullying, cyberstalking, internet trolling, and exposure to offensive or harmful content, particularly for children. Public submissions to the Standing Committee on the Online Safety Bill included one from a former media personality, Lenora Qereqeretabua, who felt it was a tactic to scare online users rather than try to develop capacity for responsible online behaviour and online safety.</p>




<p>Another submission to the Bill, from the Media Watch Group in Fiji, emphasised the right to responsible free speech for Fiji citizens, saying this was a fundamental component of a truly democratic society and a must for a developing island nation in this growing digital age.</p>




<p>Recently, the Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Maleilegaoi threatened to ban the social media network Facebook in Samoa after what he described were “gutless anonymous bloggers” using the freedom of social media to abuse government officials and innocent members of the public.</p>




<p>Papua New Guinea followed suit last month by considering to block Facebook as a result of alleged defamatory publications, fake news, identity theft and unidentified users breaching the law in terms of posting pornographic materials and fake news.</p>




<p>During the summit in Tonga, PNG Acting Secretary for the Department of Communication and Information, Paul Korni, did not mince his words when he told participants that they would not hesitate to enforce legislation that monitored social media such as Facebook if it meant putting a tight lid on the dissemination of “fake news” and other alleged defamatory publications.</p>




<p><strong>Cyberspace arena</strong><br />World-renowned digital technology activist Dhyta Caturani from Indonesia put things into perspective when she made a strong statement at the summit about the internet and new media platforms that made it possible for people to do and say things that were not possible for them before in this new arena – cyberspace.</p>




<p>In terms of fake news, governments, civil society and even the media are still battling this issue. And one point Caturani raised was uncovering the reasons or intentions behind fake news.</p>




<p>This, Caturani believes, is key if media and stakeholders were to address the issue of fake news, finding the motivations and intentions of fake news and putting the fire out through due diligence and fact-checking information before publishing or broadcasting news.</p>




<p>She said some fake news were churned out by irresponsible internet users while others used fake news to propagate political interests or agendas – a notion shared also by senior journalists in the region when it came to identifying the purpose of fake news.</p>




<p>“Why has this (cyber) space now become heavily monitored, regulated, surveilled, censored and our data being stolen from us without consent or sold, not to mention the online violence?” she asked during her keynote address at the opening of the summit.</p>




<p>“The answer is profit. With millions of people now connected to the internet, with billions of information and data published, the capitalists realised that the internet is the new source of making limitless profits.</p>




<p>“The other answer is fear. Those in power realised that the internet has now become a tool for people to challenge those in power and abusing power to disrupt the status quo and to demand freedom and equality.</p>




<p><strong>Censorship a global trend</strong><br />“We now see censorship as a global trend. Governments all over the world are copying one another to pass draconian laws that will give them the legitimisation to censor any content, any expression, any voice published online. Some governments even shut down the internet entirely.”</p>




<p>Veteran journalists from Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga shared similar concerns about the fake news trend in relation to the challenge for the media in a digitally-empowered society – that fake news and social media platforms had given rise to “citizen journalism” and the circulation of unverified information, and analysis of news by the general public on popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and that journalists and media stakeholders needed to adapt to this “new normal” or “seismic change” while maintaining their integrity and ethics.</p>




<p>It’s a new form of journalism that continues to grow.</p>




<p>Journalists Association of Samoa president Rudy Bartley said this was a challenge for journalists and media workers.</p>




<p>“It’s either you adapt or die. There are a lot of fake news circulating and those issues, without social media, would never have happened,” Bartley said.</p>




<p>Long-time PNG journalist Joseph Ealedona said they were very critical of new media and its impact on the future of journalism. While they welcomed the change in the way news and information were disseminated, the concern was maintaining journalistic integrity and ethics.</p>




<p><strong>Vital solution</strong><br />In the midst of these challenges and debates about new media platforms and its impact on journalism in the region, Tongan journalist Kalafi Moala summed up perhaps a vital solution when he shared his concept in dealing with this trend.</p>




<p>“Instead of monitoring these, we need to continue to educate people to tell the truth. It is telling the truth and authenticity that will expose the fake. I have never seen new media, social media as a threat to journalism at all. I see it as an extension of the media when it is used properly,” Moala said.</p>




<p>These media trends and practices continue to play a vital role in terms of getting news out first and in real time. The onus is more or less on journalists and media workers to adapt and embrace these current media practices without compromising their ethics and code of conduct as the fourth estate.</p>




<p><em>Geraldine Panapasa is editor-in-chief of <a href="http://www.wansolwaranews.com/" rel="nofollow">Wansolwara</a> newspaper with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme. This is a special report for Asia Pacific Report.<br /></em></p>




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<p>Article by <a href="https://www.asiapacificreport.nz/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">AsiaPacificReport.nz</a></p>

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