HONIARA (Radio Australia / Pacific Media Watch): The late vice-president of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI), Walter Nalangu, has been praised by the organisation as a true "champion of news services".
Nalangu died of an asthma attack in the Solomon capital, Honiara, on Saturday.
General manager of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), Cornelius Rathamama, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat programme it was a sad day for the SIBC.
"It is a tragedy, a real big tragedy for SIBC," he said.
"Especially the news department."
Nalangu had been vice-president of MASI since 2009.
He was also the editor-in-chief of news and current affairs at the SIBC.
Nalangu's funeral was held in the capital's St Barnabas Cathedral.
Rathamama says that after the three-hour service, preparations were underway for Nalangu's body to be taken to Mono in the Shortland Islands in Western Province.
"We have decided to send his body home according to a request from his wife and family," he said.
"We have just finished part of the service, and we are now preparing to board the ship."
MASI president George Herming says Nalangu will be greatly missed and will leave a lasting legacy as a mentor of many young journalists in the Solomons.
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Pacific Media Watch
