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FIJI:
Media statement from David Robie
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Title -- FIJI: Media statement from David Robie - P79
Date -- 1 September, 1998
Byline -- David Robie
Source -- Press Release
Copyright -- Robie
Status -- Unabridged
Origin -- Pacific Media
Watch
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1 September 1998
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM DAVID ROBIE
I refer to a media statement today from the president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), William Parkinson:
I would like to point out that I have already filed a complaint before the Fiji Media Council in April this year and am awaiting adjudication. This was a complaint over unprofessionalism and unethical conduct in a series of articles published in Fiji during a campaign of opposition against the appointments of Ms Ingrid Leary and myself to the Journalism programme. The complaint includes conduct by PINA itself and some individuals who are members of PINA.
It is unsurprising that PINA has not defended freedom of expression in the case of Ms Leary and I because it has a vested interest in not addressing the issues of fairness and balance raised in the complaint some of which were formally raised with Mr Parkinson himself several months ago.
Mr Parkinson has made no attempt to speak to us to find out the facts, nor does he mention that the University of the South Pacific has already made a public statement that our activities are part of our normal work in research and publication as journalism academics.
The improvement in the Journalism Programme over the past six months, the establishment of a regional media website as part of our programme, and the opening of our new newsroom this week are evidence of the positive impact that Ms Leary and I have made on the programme.
It is ironic that an organisation that professes to support media freedom should be so selective in the cases and issues that it champions.
DAVID ROBIE
Senior Lecturer and Journalism Coordinator
University of the South Pacific
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