Page 25 - IB May 2018 Edition

Media

the newsroom manager he disliked in state change in an outer island of Kiribati. Sun newspaper in Solomon Islands Habru
radio and television. It is not all doom and gloom however. Priestly believes the news media is more
The record of Nauru, host of this year’s Solomon Islands and Vanuatu enjoy a free today than it was 10 years ago. He
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit, in vibrant and dynamic media landscape, as also believes the emergence of social me-
supporting media freedom is sullied. Apart well as the smaller islands of Federated dia is both a blessing and a curse in terms
from claims that authorities had attempted States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands of recognising the role of the fourth estate.
to block Facebook last year, the island gov- and Palau up in the northwest Pacific, and “I say Solomon Islands media is freer
ernment charges a US$6000 visa fee for Cook Islands and Niue to the east. today because majority of its consumers
overseas journalists, a fee that Professor Said Dan McGarry, media director of have come to realise the important role of
Robie has denounced as ‘outrageous and Vanuatu’s Daily Post/Buzz FM96: the media and want to utilise it to weed
unacceptable.’ “I think it’s unequivocally true that out corruption, promote their business,
Outside Tuvalu and Kiribati, hardly media freedom is stronger today than it and increase economic activities or simply
anything is heard about the state of media was a decade ago. The 2011 assault on a better life for the people. It is only a few,
freedom in the two island nations. This Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones by a frustrated people that are short-sighted,
is not to say that all is well there as jour- government minister and his henchmen proud and ignorant that want newspapers
nalists in both countries do come under was arguably the high water mark in ef- like Island Sun or certain reporters to be
intense pressure from their leaders. Tuvalu forts to suppress the media. eliminated from the face of the earth. But
Media Corporation for instance carries the “Many of the early gains were almost little do they know that the media is here to
rare distinction of perhaps the only state literally bought with blood. It was the stay and only its custodians come and go.
radio that has to undergo un-corporatisa- widespread perception that violence as “Secondly the rise of social media is both
tion after it was corporatised some years a response to criticism is unacceptable a blessing and a curse. On the brighter
before. It’s the only news media in Tuvalu, that cemented the standing of the Daily side, the social media give journalists tips
and its operations today come under the Post, and provided a space for free and and even insight on certain issues. Social
purview of the Prime Minister directly. fair comment. media also amplifies what the mainstream
Following the ferry disaster in Kiri- “The rise of social media has created media have covered.
bati early this year, the administration of new problems in the realm of civil dis- “It becomes a tool used to bring about
President Taneti Mamau banned overseas course, responsible reporting and media problems, seeking solutions, raising com-
journalists who wanted to travel to the ethics, but it has contributed greatly to plaints and exposing poor leadership and
atoll nation to cover the tragedy. It also propagating the principle of freedom of governance.”
detained a Canadian filmmaker while he speech, expression and association.”
was shooting a documentary on climate Like Vanuatu, former editor of Island paretis@gmail.com

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Islands Business, May 2018 25