Pasifika Media Association

REGION: Regenvanu calls for more ‘independent’ Pacific

Pacific Media Centre — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:06:09 +0000

WELLINGTON (Pacific Scoop / Pacific Media Watch): Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's recently-appointed Minister of Lands, Geology, Mines, Energy and Water, is a self-confessed "notorious critic" of free trade and foreign ownership.

He wants to see Pacific nations become more independent of Australian and New Zealand influence.

SAMOA: State project boosts mobile phones and internet links

Pacific Media Centre — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:17:36 +0000

APIA (Pacific Media Watch / Samoa Observer): A government project has led to dramatically increased access to mobile phones and lower call costs for the Samoan people, as well as improvements to the postal system, according to the Samoa Observer.

SAMOA: New TV and radio channel launched

Pacific Media Centre — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:04:04 +0000

APIA (Pacific Media Watch / Samoa Observer): The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) launched a new television and radio station today.

General secretary Rev Dr Iutisone Salevao says the stations will be called EFKS Television and Radio Broadcasting for now and will operate in a building behind the church’s headquarters in Apia.

AUDIO: Media freedom ‘great achievement’ in Afghanistan, says BBC reporter

Pacific Media Centre — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:04:48 +0000

AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary has hailed media freedom as one of the accomplishments in Afghanistan over the last decade.

The Kabul-based reporter working for the BBC expressed this view at a Pacific Media Centre seminar in AUT University last night.

In a Q&A session with New Zealand journalist Jon Stephenson, who has also done extensive reporting in Afghanistan, Sarwary noted the big steps Afghanistan has taken in media freedom.

FIJI: Rabuka refuses to reveal name of coup co-conspirators

Pacific Media Centre — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:25 +0000

Rohit Deo
SUVA (Fijivillage.com /Pacific Media Watch): Fiji's 1987 coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka says that it is up to the people of the country to forgive him for his actions.

A young woman named Kajol who was part of a panel discussion at the University of the South Pacific last night told Rabuka that her family was victimised in the 1987 coup and she cannot forgive him for what he did until - and unless - he reveals the names of people who encouraged him to lead the coup.

[Audio file]

FIJI: Fiji Times ordered to pay $5000 fine under media decree

Pacific Media Centre — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:57:31 +0000

Praneeta Prakash
SUVA (Fijivillage.com / Pacific Media Watch): Fiji Times Limited, which had pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching the Media Industry Development Decree, has been ordered to pay a $5000 fine by the Suva Magistrates Court.

The fine is to be paid within 28 days.

Magistrate Sufia Hamza said that managing director Mahendra Patel went to Australia in 2011 and did not return, which led to the breach of the decree.

She said the fine was to reflect the seriousness of the offence.

AUDIO: NZ moviegoers enthused over epic Polynesian tale

Pacific Media Centre — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:48:17 +0000

AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): For the first time after its premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival, Aucklanders had the chance to experience the classic Norwegian adventure drama Kon Tiki this week.

FIJI: Ex-USP professor Narsey ‘gagged’ over media freedom speech

Pacific Media Centre — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:48:29 +0000

SUVA (Radio NZ International / Pacific Media Watch): A former University of the South Pacific professor says he was stopped from addressing journalism students on World Press Freedom Day earlier this month.

A former economics professor, Dr Wadan Narsey says he was invited to speak to students and had accepted.

He says the invitation was then rescinded, and he was told that USP management instructed the school of journalism to remove him from the programme.

BINGO winner claims Vt50, 000 cash

Vanuatu Daily Post — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:41:00 +0000

BINGO winner claims Vt50, 000 cash

Vanuatu Daily Post — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:41:00 +0000