Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Frankie Reed, of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US Department of State, has paid a visit to the Pacific Media Centre at AUT University.
She met PMC director associate professor David Robie and several project journalists and students involved in the centre.
After early studies in journalism and communication herself, Reed has a keen interest in the state of the media in the region and in a free press.
Following a general introduction to the work of the centre by Dr Robie, co-editor Selwyn Manning gave a rundown on the new project Pacific Scoop and its development as an independent media "hub" for the region while masters student and contributing editor Josephine Latu talked about the Pacific Media Watch database.
Graduate Diploma in Journalism student Gladys Hartson, who has just joined the PMW project, joined the group. Also involved in the wide-ranging talks about the region's media and politics were US Consul General Randy Berry and Public Affairs Adviser Phil McKenna.
Pacific Media Centre
