REGION: New Pacific media group launched in Samoa

APIA: Representatives of Pacific media networks have agreed to cooperate as a regional alliance on media freedom and other issues of common concern at a meeting in Apia, Samoa, coinciding with World Press Freedom Day 2011.

 

As a first step, the Media Alliance of the Pacific will create a database of media workers across the Pacific.

 

This will help improve information sharing, optimise training opportunities, strengthen capacity building and pool regional resources.

 

Among its priorities will be a regional code of ethics and a regional Pacific media complaints council.

 

Absent from the meeting was the region’s main media body, the Pacific Islands News Association.

 

PINA has been at loggerheads with other media groups since its management refused to speak out about the censorship of media by the Fiji interim regime. - Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch

Conference outcomes document

 

Full text of Marc Neil-Jones speech