AUCKLAND: Kia orana, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Taloha ni and warm Pacific greetings. 2010 brings a new era for the Pacific Island Media Association but what does that mean for Pacific media practitioners and students? At this year’s conference (Friday, October 1 at AUT University in Auckland),
topics include media standards when reporting, the future of traditional media and the delivery of information via the internet and social marketing. We also look at how to make your own news with cost effective and accessible technology, script writing and how to keep up with changes in journalism.The discussions will be led by a range of Pacific media experts, offering critical analysis and challenging the status quo.
PROGRAMME
OPENING - 9.00 am
Opening Prayer - Pastor Lui Ponifasio
Welcome - Tagaloatele Professor of Pacific Studies Dr Peggy Dunlop – AUT
PIMA Chairman – Iulia Leilua
OPENING ADDRESS - 9.15 am
Kalafi Moala – Vice Chair PasiMa
One of the driving forces behind the Pacific's new media freedom group,
PasiMA is the keynote speaker at this year’s conference.Kalafi Moala,
publisher and CEO of Tonga’s Taimi Media Network, is the new vice chair
of PasiMA, an organisation which has reportedly created a rift with
PINA (the Pacific Island News Association organisation based in Fiji),
a similar organisation formed in 1972.
The Pacific region is a political, social and cultural hotspot which
doesn’t make reporting an easy assignment.So why is there a need for a
second media freedom group when there are a limited number of
journalists and funding?What will this new group achieve and what can
they offer Pacific journalists in New Zealand?
Kalafi Moala launched Tonga’s first independent newspaper, the Taimi ‘o
Tonga, in 1989. He is the CEO of the Taimi Media Network (TMN) in Tonga
which publishes the Taimi ‘o Tonga (published twice weekly), the
English language Tonga Chronicle (published weekly), and operates
TMN-TV2 broadcast for 6 hours daily on Digicel TV, and the 24 hr Radio
FM 88.1.
Question and answer time – 15 minutes
MORNING WORKSHOPS (NB 3 workshops will run simultaneously from 10.00 –
11.30am)
**WORKSHOP 1- 10.00 – 11.30 am
Scriptwriters and Directors Workshop: Finding Your Mojo
Facilitator – TBC
Jumpstart your scriptwriting skills with three of the Pacific’s most
talented film/TV writers and directors.Got a project you can’t start or
finish?Need a push in the right direction?Our trio can help you with:
• Writing - brainstorm ideas, develop characters and write crackling
storylines
• Directing – learn the basics of becoming a successful TV and film
director.
• Telling a story – what makes a compelling, interesting and
successful story?
• Injecting passion into your work
It’s an hour and a half of fun, creativity and throwing around ideas no
matter the size, scope or silliness!
Participating Pacific film makers, story tellers and representative
from Playmarket-Shimpal Lelisi, Oscar Keightley and Damon Fepulea’i
share their experiences of working in the film and TV industries.
Shimpal is a Niuean-born actor and TV presenter, best known as one of
the members of the Naked Samoans and Bro’Town team.Oscar Vai To'elau
Kightley, MNZM, is a Samoan-born actor, television presenter and
writer.He’s also a member of the Naked Samoans and Bro’Town team.Damon
Fepulea’i’s film directing credits include ‘Watermark’, ‘The Market’
and ‘Jono’s New Show’.Jenni Hekacoordinates Playmarket's now
significant development programme for Maori and Pacific Island
playwrights in the Auckland region, networking between playwrights,
producers, practitioners and the world at large.
**WORKSHOP 2- 10.00 – 11.30 am
D.I.Y Multimedia
Facilitators – Randwick Park School students with Sala’a and Sina Lologa
Here’s something different. Find out what young people are doing with
technology – from young people themselves! Students and their tutors
from Randwick Park School will teach you how to make a podcast, your
own blog page or a simple music video clip shot on your cell
phone.Imagine that. Take images, edit them then post your content
online.
Bring your own camera and if you’ve got one, an Apple Macbook. If
you’ve got Applegears like iPhones, iPods or iBooks, they can also
teach you how to use these applications on your laptop.
Sala’a Lologa is an Information Communication Technology Co-ordinator
at Randwick Park School in Manurewa. Sina Lologa is also a teacher who
uses ICT as a teaching tool.
**WORKSHOP 3- 10.00 – 11.30 am
Media standards and the clash with Pacific cultural standards
Facilitator – Sandra Kailahi
What happens when you turn up to report a criminal case, only to find
your relative on trial and the family pressuring you to write a certain
way?What about when your Palagi boss sends you to report on an
explosive story that’s going to reflect badly on a Pacific community or
person? Who is responsible for the racist backlash and national furore
after you’ve broken the story?
Your Pacific heritage may help open Pacific doors but it also brings
certain pressures and responsibilities other journalists don’t have to
face.Cultural expectations and professional ethics don’t always go hand
in hand in Pacific journalism. Take name suppression for example, how
do you keep a big story quiet in the Pacific communities? And when does
a public good become a public bad. We ask a panel of professional
Pacific journalists to discuss the theory behind delivering a story
while facing cultural restrictions and potential consequences.
Panel: Vaimoana Tapaleao - NZ Herald (2010 Qantas Junior Reporter of
the Year); Richard Pamatatau – Radio New Zealand; Niva Retimanu –
Newstalk ZB, Radio New Zealand.
Friday: 11.30 am – 12.00 pm
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS
PIMA will hold its AGM before lunch. All paid members are invited to
attend. A year’s membership only costs $20.Membership forms can be
downloaded from our website www.pima.co.nz or at the end of this
document. At the AGM we will discuss matters arising from the last
conference AGM and the election of the new PIMA executive.
LUNCH - 12.00 pm
12.50 pm Pacific Media Centre director – Dr David Robie
Associate Professor Dr David Robie will give an update on the Pacific
Media Centre - TE AMOKURA. PMC is the only media research and community
resource centre of its kind in Aotearoa/New Zealand and has a strategic
focus on Maori, Pasifika and ethnic diversity media and community
development. It was established by AUT University's Faculty of Design
and Creative Technologies in 2007.
1.00 -2.30 pm – Choice of 3 workshops
***WORKSHOP 1
Producers’ Workshop: Getting your story idea onto the screen.
Facilitator – TBC
Submitting a programme/film proposal to broadcasters and funders can be
hard work.It’s not good enough to have a good idea, you have to SELL it
to them.Which means you have to know how to sell it and what will make
your proposal stand out from the pack. Our team of industry experts
will discuss:
• What makes an idea sexy and what turns decision makers off
• The importance of timing when submitting a funding proposal (funding
rounds, events, financial years, anniversaries etc)
• How to ensure your project gets read, and more importantly produced
• How to schmooze to the right people at the right events
• The types of Pacific stories they’re interested in
• What to do when your idea is turned down.Do you give up or carry on?
• The influence of the internet - is this the way of future story
telling?
This will be an interactive session with time for questions and answers
from the floor.
Panel: Maori Television’s Head of Acquisitions and Commissioning,
Manutai Schuster; TVNZ Commissioner Drama and Scripted Comedy -
Kathleen Anderson;TVNZ Commissioner for Factual Entertainment,
Children’s, and Maori and Pacific, Kathryn Graham; New Zealand Film
Commission Development Executive, Chris Payne
**WORKSHOP 2
D.I.Y Multimedia continued…….
Facilitators – Randwick Park School students with Sala’a and Sina Lologa
Here’s something different. Find out what young people are doing with
technology – from young people themselves!Students and their tutors
from Randwick Park School will teach you how to make a podcast, your
own blog page or a simple music video clip shot on your cell
phone.Imagine that. Take images, edit them then post your content
online.
**WORKSHOP 3
Get Your Game On with New Era Media
Facilitator– Cam Swainson
Only the quick survive in the fast changing world of multi-media
platforms – the combination of text, audio, still images, animation,
video, and interactivity content forms, and the convergence of media,
entertainment, the internet and phone.
It’s not enough to post a video or information online. You have to make
sure people see it, and if required, take up the call to action.If
you’re in a competitive industry, you need competitive advantage.
It’s not as complicated as it sounds – a few cookies placed here, a few
links on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube there. But it has to be a
co-ordinated approach and not scattergun.
In this PIMA workshop, TVNZ’s multi-media guru, Cam Swainson, will
teach you basic strategies such as:
• Using multiple platforms to reach larger audiences for your stories,
or media outlet.
• The 360 degrees approach: wrapping an array of multi-media options
around your vision to achieve successful results
• Practical examples of new era media applications in Pacific Island
contexts
• Using multi media to help increase revenue and give more bang for
buck
• How to “go viral” i.e. become popular on the internet in a short
amount of time
• Insights into future trends in mobiles, apps, broadband
Cam Swainson-Whaanga is currently a researcher and multi-media person
for Tagata Pasifika at TVNZ. Cam has previously been a Director for I
AM TV, Mai Time and Production Manager for such shows as Dancing with
the Stars and Mitre 10 Dream Home. Cam is involved in many Pacific
initiatives and projects around education and media. "Even with my
Maori background, I feel we are all Polynesians and I see a lot of
similarities between Pacific and Maori cultures and they generally
share similar struggles in the 21st century. I see my role as helping
get the Pacific stories we produce, across the world via online and
social network sites."
Friday 2.45 – 4.30pm
PANEL DISCUSSION – THE END OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA
Facilitator – John Utanga (chair of Pacific Media Centre and senior
reporter on Tagata Pasifika)
Over the last decade we have seen the biggest shift in technology since
the industrial revolution.The impact on traditional media has been huge
with many newspapers struggling to compete with online media and radio
stations going online to reach bigger audiences.
Media commentators blame the decline of traditional media on the
recession, proliferation of media, digital convergence and media
fragmentation.
But could the decline of traditional media be good for Pacific
peoples?Social media is the great equaliser.There are few places where
diversity rules as much as it does on the internet.Tribalisation on the
internet reflects the tribal/communal nature of Pacific cultures.
Online social interaction is wide open to almost everyone, regardless
of income, social background, ethnicity or gender identity. Everyone’s
voice can be heard and potentially make a difference. Social media is
the voice of Everyman.
How are Pacific media capitalising on that tribalism? Does quality
journalism matter now when so many voices can be heard.Could it be the
death knell for the written word as we know it but a new era for radio
and television – a good thing for Pacific cultures who traditionally
passed on knowledge through aural and visual communication.
Panel: Vienna Richards – PacificEyeWitness.com; Tom Etuata – Chief
Executive, Pacific Media Network; Setita Miller – Pasifika
Broadcasting; Sefita Hao’uli – Tongan media veteran; Kalafi Moala –
Taimi Media Network; Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin – Tagata Pasifika
4.30pm - Networking
Vespa Bar – AUT Campus
Sponsors
PIMA acknowledges the support of the following organisations for
helping to make this conference a reality.
AUT and School of Communication Studies – www.aut.ac.nz
Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs – www.minpac.org.nz
Pacific Media Centre www.pmc.aut.ac.nz
Pacific Media Watch
