Sarah Vamarasi
SUVA (Wansolwara / Pacific Media Watch): Frayed relations between the Suva-based Pacific Islands News Association and the head of the University of the South Pacific’s regional journalism programme have been resolved following the intervention of deputy vice-chancellor Esther Williams.
“The meeting was very constructive and fruitful with very positive outcomes,” Dr Williams said in a statement after the meeting last Wednesday.
The meeting resolved that USP and PINA would work together for the benefit of the institutions and the industry.
Relations soured a month after the PINA summit when Dr Marc Edge gave an interview to Radio Australia about the summit.
The meeting also agreed on the urgent need to revive a journalism advisory group to strengthening USP’s journalism programme.
The group will help advance professional education and improve the training of students in the region.
PINA is to be the industry member of the proposed group.
Fourteen USP journalism students were sponsored by PINA and its partners to attend the summit.
Journalism styles
Pacific Media Watch reports: Dr Edge and Professor David Robie, director of the Pacific Media Centre at New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology, also clashed in the Fiji Sun late in the week with contrasting views on journalism styles.
While Dr Edge defended a "Western-style", Dr Robie argued for a "Pacific-style" of independent journalism.
Dr Robie is the author of several books about Pacific journalism, media and the politics and is a former head of journalism at USP.
Western way not best for Fiji
Marc Edge replies to Thakur Singh
David Robie replies to Mark Edge
Profiles:
Dr Marc Edge
Professor David Robie
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Pacific Media Watch
