Page 24 - IB May 2018 Edition

Media

Media freedom under attack

IB’s 2018 Status of the Media in the Pacific Report

By Samisoni Pareti Fiji and Papua New Guinea, have faced a for media freedom rather than concerted
steady “chilling” in their discourse. In- industry action.
WITH the trial of three newspaper execu- creasingly in PNG, for example, the public “Yet another factor is a general decline
tives underway in Fiji in May on charges and journalists themselves are turning of trust by the public in the mainstream
of sedition, the assault of a newspaper to independent and respected blogs for media. In the face of global business model
journalist in Papua New Guinea, the trusted and “real” information. There is a disruptions, the Pacific media – like its
removal of the general manager and her mainstream media silence on many issues, partners elsewhere in the globe – has a
news manager at the Tonga Broadcast- especially the under-reporting of social challenge on its hands to restore credibility
ing Commission and the re-introduction justice issues, the plight of refugees after and trustworthiness.”
of libel laws in Samoa, press freedom is closure of the Manus detention centre, To counter this concerted attempt at
coming under severe attacks in all regions climate change, and West Papua.” muzzling the media, Professor Robie is
of the Pacific. Fanning the new push to limit media advocating a united approach by all media
A survey by Islands Business reveal freedom Professor Robie believes are puni- players in the region. Such a comeback
disturbing signs to silence or control the tive media laws as well as attempts to rope must be sustained and loud and not driven
work of independent and free media in in social media. This has only added to the or watered down by non-media agenda.
the islands, with most of these attacks ‘chilling of media freedom’ in the islands, A senior journalist in Papua New Guinea
orchestrated by public agencies. Equally with world leaders like American President who wished to remain anonymous be-
alarming is the absence of a public outcry Donald Trump being cheerleaders. lieves the country’s news media is not as
or condemnation from the media and the “In Fiji, for example, the fact that the free as it was a decade ago. According to
general public alike. post-coup media industry development the respondent, media in PNG is now sup-
Long-time Pacific media commenta- decree remains on the books (albeit pressed and controlled by the government.
tor and journalist now director of the slightly improved) almost five years after “The biggest reason is managers of
Auckland-based Pacific Media Centre and the return of “democracy” is an outrage in media houses are buckling under political
convenor of Pacific Media Watch, Profes- what is claimed to be a free society. The interference in matters of their newsrooms
sor David Robie believes media freedom recent attempt at Fiji police “intimidation” and this boils down on their part to job
in the Pacific has never been under severe of the Islands Business senior editorial security. Interference from outside is com-
stress as it is today. team is another shocking example. mon practice today from the government.
“Ironically, in this digital era of social “Another factor is the fragmentation But look and listen, is anyone complain-
media and with a multitude of alternative of media organisations and weakened ing? Not even on social media. Why?
and independent information sources and responses to this assault by the industry. This is compounded by a considerably
platforms available, mainstream media It has been left to individual media titles, weakened Media Council. Senior journal-
has faced a decline in media freedom. such as the Vanuatu Daily Post with a ists are bribed by very powerful people to
Notably two of the Pacific countries with compelling, courageous and inspirational keep the status quo.”
the largest and strongest media industries, recent editorial to fight the good fight Fiji on the other hand has a news media
that is buckling under very strict condi-
tions provided for under the draconian Fiji
media decree, and not helped by a barely
functioning Media Industry Development
Authority. The trial this month of three
executives of the Fiji Times newspaper and
a letter writer to the newspaper together
with the detention last February of three
employees of Islands Business includ-
ing this writer will only force journalists
to retreat into the illusionary comfort of
self-censorship.
Controls or interference in the news
media in Tonga and Samoa are equally
worrying. Prime Minister Tuilaepa’s on-
going fight with an anonymous blogger
prompted his government to resurrect an
archaic libel law. His counterpart in Tonga,
one time champion of democracy and ad-
vocate of a free and independent media,
‘Akilisi Pohiva has successfully worked to
Suva lawyer Liliwaimanu Vuiyasawa assists Islands Business’ editor-in-chief Samisoni Pareti (centre) and Staff Writer remove, or transfer executives including
Nanise Volau (right) outside Fiji Police’s CID headquarters during their arrest. Photo: Fiji Times

24 Islands Business, May 2018