Media observer criticises Media Council move
Title -- 5276 FIJI: Media observer criticises Media Council move
Date -- 24 January 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- The Fiji Times 23/1/08
Copyright - FT
Status -- Unabridged
Post a comment on PMW's Right of Reply: PMW feedback pmc@aut.ac.nz
WILSON RESPECTS TARTE'S STAND
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=79296
SUVA (Fiji Times Online/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji Media Council did not need to join the National Council for Building a Better Fiji to have its views made known, media observer and consultant Matt Wilson said yesterday.
He was responding to the media body's chairman, Daryl Tarte's, decision to join the council.
Wilson said the council was "very controversial and divisive" which was not surprising given the [post-coup] circumstances.
"I can understand why there are concerns about Mr Tarte joining." Mr Wilson said.
"There is, in my view, an issue about whether an organisation such as the Media Council should be involved in the NCBBF," he said.
Wilson said Tarte's membership with the council was open to misinterpretation.
"However, Mr Tarte is sincere in his belief that he can play a useful role in the council, and I respect that," Wilson said.
The Pacific Islands News Association said it was not in a position to comment.
Attempts to obtain comments from former Information Minister Ratu Jo Dimuri proved futile.
Last week the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity questioned the local media's independence following the council's decision to be involved in the interim government's proposed People's Charter.
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. It is now published by the Pacific Media Centre at New Zealand's AUT University. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Programme at the University of the South Pacific, Journalism Studies at the University of PNG (UPNG) and the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ), Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. The website is hosted by the Association of Progressive Communications (APC).
© 1996-2008 Copyright - All rights reserved. Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members. Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW.
For further information and joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve,
go to http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch-apc.org.au:
Email: pmc@aut.ac.nz
Pacific Media Centre
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
Mail: PO Box 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Website: www.pmw.c2o.org
Return to Pacific Media Watch