Government suggests media watchdog
Title -- 4342 COOK IS: Government suggests media watchdog
Date -- 12 March 2004
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Cook Islands News 10/3/2004
Copyright -- CIN
Status -- Unabridged
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COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT SUGGESTS MEDIA WATCHDOG
www.cinews.co.ck
RAROTONGA, Cook Is (Cook Islands News/Pacific Media Watch): An independent press council set up along the lines of one in New Zealand could be the best way of dealing with widespread concerns about unacceptable standards and abuses of power displayed by the Cook Islands' three weekly newspapers, a government spokesman says.
The newspapers are run by the Pitt Media Group, which also operates the country's radio and television services - the focus of government moves last week to set up a task force to look into the state of broadcasting in the Cook Islands and to revive the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC).
Stories in the weekly newspapers are often distorted in an attempt to show government figures and others in a bad light, and are sometimes no more than propaganda aimed at fulfilling the owners' political ambitions, the spokesman says.
There have also been allegations that the Pitt Media Group has offered some government ministries and departments favorable publicity in return for large sums of money, and these warrant investigation, he adds.
A press council or a media council, which would also cover broadcasting, appears to be the most appropriate way of dealing with the situation, the spokesman says.
The New Zealand Press Council was set up in 1972 to provide the public with an independent forum for resolution of complaints against the press.
Complaints must be directed at editorial content - a separate body deals with complaints against advertising. The council also considers complaints by newspapers about the conduct of persons and organizations towards the press.
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