Alistar Kata
AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): Media outlets in Vanuatu are getting their newsrooms up and running again after the devastation caused by tropical cyclone Pam earlier this month.
The Vanuatu Daily Post, the country's main newspaper, was out of action for three days before staff were able to get some communications going, but were closed for close to a week before they could get their paper printed.
Senior reporter Jonas Cullwick, a former public broadcasting manager, said the lack of power disrupted news organisations trying to report on the disaster.
"It was really difficult - and frustrating at the same time - because, you know, it is a daily newspaper and a lot of people rely on us to inform them on what is really happening and what the extent of the damage is," he said.
"And then there was no power for almost five days."
Photojournalist and communications director of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy Ben Bohane said that although his job became personal with the disaster, his responsibility as a journalist was to “carry on” and do his job.
"A big thing for people like myself was having to get on with the job immediately in the aftermath," he said.
"My home had a bit of damage. I had to give up my own life for the past week or 10 days to make sure we got accurate information out."
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Alistar Kata
