Comment - Niu FM criticised over 'beat of the Pacific'
Title -- 5370 NZ: Comment - Niu FM criticised over 'beat of Pacific'
Date -- 13 March 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Liiki Nius 13/03/08
Copyright - LN
Status -- Unabridged
Post a comment on PMW's Right of Reply: PMW feedback pmc@aut.ac.nz
Comment:
NIU FM FAILS AGAIN
will@waiatatrust.co.nz
By Will 'IIolahia, of Liiki Nius
AUCKLAND (Liiki Nius/Pacific Media Watch): The TVOne news item (March 12) regarding award-winning news editor Lito Vilisoni being replaced by a Labour candidate's sister, Vienna Richards, at the Pacific radio stations 531pi and Niu FM reflects the criticism that Niu FM has been attracting since CEO Sina Moore took over.
Besides the alleged nepotism aspect of Richards' appointment, the major worry now is the claim that Niu FM does not represent the Pacific or serve the commununities that it purports to serve.
Niuean Lito Vilisoni was the highest-ranked non-Samoan Polynesian manager at the network while the Tongan community has asked to meet the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs to express its disappointment in having three nights of Tongan language programmes reduced to one.
At the station's 2006 annual general meeting, a motion of no-confidence was quickly overruled unconstitutionally by the former chairman, Simativa Perese.
Just over one year later, allegations over nepotism, biased management and now the "Samoanisation" policy have emerged as contrary to the station's call - "Beat of the Pacific".
Managers are Palagi along with three Samoans, including Sina Moore, Paul Niumata and now Vienna Richards.
Attempts to get comment from Richards have failed.
Another concern is that, according to reports, Vilisoni was demoted due to a review commissioned by Niu FM and administered by Richards.
As a sociology graduate, I believe this survey smacks of self-promotion.
* Will 'Ilolahia is a Tongan media personality, community campaigner and executive producer for a special show on Triangle Television. He also worked with Niu FM for a period but resigned in 2006.
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