Savea Sano Malifa
APIA: The Samoa Observer welcomes representatives of international media organisations, members of the Pacific media networks, and all journalists who are gathering in Apia this week for the annual commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
We are delighted that not only is Samoa chosen as the Pacific venue for this very important event, but also that the event itself is seen as a breakthrough in Pacific journalism since it is an inaugural gathering where “media regionalism” will be discussed and promoted.
Similarly, it is gratifying to see that this forum is bringing together network leaders from international media organisations, such as:
* AIBD Pacific Media Partnership,
* Pacific Alliance for Development Journalists,
* Pacific Freedom Forum,
* Pacific Islands Media Association,
* IFJ Pacific Media Human Rights and Democracy Project,
* Pacific WAVE Media Network,
* and PasiMA.
Supported by UNESCO Pacific as a part of WPFD, with additional funding from the AusAID’s Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PacMAS), the deliberations up ahead promise to be stimulating, didactic, helpful.
What’s more, the idea that PacMAS is launching its regional office in Vanuatu in July should be good news for [Vanuatu Daily Post publisher] Marc Neil-Jones who, we believe, obviously needs all the help he can get in his ongoing skirmishes with those thugs, also known as Vanuatu politicians.
In any case, we sincerely hope some real positive changes – ones that ensure press freedom and the public’s right to know are respected - will emerge from this week’s deliberations.
It is also hoped that with such positive changes come tolerance so that mutual respect between politicians on one side, and editors and journalists on the other, is achieved. We say this because it is clear this is sadly lacking in some governments in our region today.
The idea of “media regionalism” therefore founded on dedication and commitment to press freedom is imperative; still, even though there might be strong support from our international media partners in the collective quest we are embarking on, we believe it is entirely up to working Pacific journalists to make it happen.
Today, the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) which some of us helped set up some 24 years ago, has been quiet for quite some time. It has lost its critical voice.
The truth is that it has been manipulated so successfully that it is no longer doing the job it was set up to do – which is keeping a vigilant watch on the governments of the region so that they remain transparent and accountable to the public they serve.
Today, PINA’s silence is deafening.
So that in August last year, a group of media owners and journalists working in the Pacific got together here in Apia, and set up what is now known as the Pasifika Media Association, or PasiMA.
The goal was to take over the role that PINA had abandoned, and as the chairman of the board of PasiMA, the writer is pleased to say we have made much headway.
PasiMA now has its own website, thanks to a grant of US$10,000 from the US Embassy in Apia, and our webmaster is Ana Curry, who lives in Hawai'i but is attending this week’s meeting.
PasiMA also now has its constitution which objectives, are:
* Promote and defend values of media freedom;
* Promote and uphold ethical practices and standards;
* Promote and develop good governance and professionalism;
* Facilitate and provide training and education in the achievement of those objectives.
And now that we’re all here, what PasiMA urgently needs is the support of our colleagues in the Pacific media and friends from elsewhere, through your subscriptions.
So that together we are able to work towards fulfilling our collective dream of ensuring that press freedom in the Pacific is promoted and defended, free flow of information is enhanced and that the public’s right to know is guaranteed.
We wish you have fruitful and successful deliberations, and Long Live World Press Freedom! - Samoa Observer/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
