AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): Highly experienced journalist and postgraduate communications scholar Sri Krishnamurthi has been appointed Pacific Media Watch contributing editor for the year 2020.
Krishnamurthi, 56, topped the 2018 Asia Pacific Journalism Studies paper and graduated last year with a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies (Digital Media) at Auckland University of Technology
Originally from Fiji, Krishnamurthi has always had a strong connection with – and a deep interest in – what is happening in the Pacific region.
Sri Krishnamurthi brings more than 20 years of experience in journalism and communication and was the Pacific Media Centre’s NZ Institute for Pacific Research project journalist.
In 2018, he was selected for the International Journalism Project and travelled to Fiji twice to cover the general elections there and won the Radio NZ Pacific Award for Asia-Pacific Journalism.
Krishnamurthi will be in charge of reporting and news and current affairs stories for the Pacific Media Watch freedom project, PMC Online and Asia Pacific Report for the Pacific Media Centre. He is also hosting the centre’s weekly radio programme Southern Cross at 95bFM.
Krishnamurthi spent more than 10 years with the NZ Press Association (NZPA) news agency as a seasoned sports journalist. He also had a stint with NZ’s Rugby News magazine.
Cricket World Cup highlight
One of the many highlights of his career was covering the 1992 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
More recently, he has worked for a tertiary institution (NorthTec), an iwi organisation (Ngatiwai), as well as an economic development agency (Northland Inc) as a communications and marketing specialist.
In 2008, he was press secretary to Shane Jones, then NZ Minister for Building and Construction; Associate Minister for Trade, Treaty Negotiations, Immigration.
Krishnamurthi was also part of the crisis communications management team for the Canterbury District Health Board. He was tasked with managing external and international media interest after arriving in Christchurch within hours of the February 22, 2011, earthquake.
Pacific Media Centre director professor David Robie said he was delighted to have such an experienced journalist working on the media freedom project, which has links with the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and other advocacy groups.
"It is tremendous to have somebody who can blend both media experience with educational enthusiasm and an inquiring mind. Sri has future postgraduate study plans and somebody with his experience has much to offer journalism education," he said.
Pacific Media Watch
