Pasifika diaspora media book launched in NZ – first of its kind

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Outgoing Pacific Media Centre chair Isabella Rasch launches the new Pacific Journalism Monograph. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

By TJ Aumua of Pacific Media Watch

A research report about Pacific media outlets in New Zealand was launched today at Auckland University of Technology – the first time an extensive investigation of the Pasifika diaspora media in Auckland has been produced.

New Zealand journalist and former Auckland University of Technology postgraduate student Michael Neilson undertook the research in 2015 with the guidance of PMC director Professor David Robie.

"Pacific Way" - the latest Pacific Journalism Monograph. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
“Pacific Way” – the latest Pacific Journalism Monograph. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

The monograph, published by the Pacific Media Centre, includes interviews with staff at more than18 of Auckland’s Pacific media outlets and provides a broad snapshot of Pasifika media representation in New Zealand and seeks to improve the recognition of Pacific within media coverage as well as the profession.

Neilson, who is currently in Indonesia after an internship with the Sydney Morning Herald bureau in Jakarta, was unable to be at the launch but he was praised by staff and colleagues for the depth and range of the research.

Former postgraduate leader at AUT, Dr Frances Nelson, said the monograph included quotes, data and photographic material that had captured the essence of the organisations that participated in the research.

‘Beautifully written’
“It is also beautifully written. And it shows his engagement with the Pasifika community and their media outlets,” she said.

Dr Robie, who is editor of the Pacific Journalism Monograph series, said: “This will be a tremendously useful booklet for both Pasifika newsrooms and our student journalists. Michael did a really dedicated and thorough job on this project.”

Incoming PMC chair Associate Professor Camille Nakhid and Pacific Media Watch editor TJ Aumua. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
Incoming PMC chair Associate Professor Camille Nakhid and Pacific Media Watch editor TJ Aumua. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

Outgoing chair of the Pacific Media Centre, Isabella Rasch, launched the monograph before she stepped down after three years in the role. Associate Professor Camille Nakhid was elected as the new chair.

The monograph can be purchased at the AUT bookshop. It will be distributed to Pasifika media offices and libraries, and will eventually be made available online.

More information

Outgoing chair Isabella Rasch with her flowers from Tui O'Sullivan and the PMC board. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
Outgoing chair Isabella Rasch with her flowers from Tui O’Sullivan and the PMC board. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
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SOURCEPacific Media Centre
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TJ Aumua is Pacific Media Watch freedom project contributing editor for the Pacific Media Centre (2016). She is a recent graduate of Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) degree and with a BCS majoring in journalism and a minor in screen writing. TJ is also a contributor for the PMC Online and Asia Pacific Report and has been a recent summer research intern with Pacific Journalism Review.

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