Yearly Archives: 2019
Cook Islands backtracks on Rocketman ban
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
The Cook Islands censor has backtracked on its initial decision to ban Rocketman.
Instead, the Cook Islands Internal Affairs has followed the...
West Papua child soldiers in ‘cycle of violence’ with Indonesia military
By RNZ Pacific
Doused in black warpaint, draped in ammunition and clutching guns almost as big as some of them, the boys stare with hardened...
Media access to MPs crucial for democracy, say Pacific journalists
By RNZ
Media are a crucial part of the democratic process and accessibility to politicians is key to informing the public, say Pacific journalists visiting...
Bring ethics into global smart tech, warns UN cyber expert
SPECIAL REPORT: By David Robie in Bangkok
A leading cyber security expert has called on universities to play a more active role in implementing ethics...
New climate journalism handbook targets ‘existential problem’
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
A new handbook for the existential problem of our time – climate change – has been published as a boost for...
Rosa Koian: PNG is rich already, we just need to care more
COMMENTARY: By Rosa Koian
We all want change and we want that change to happen quickly.
Many of us feel deprived of certain opportunities and privileges...
PNG police minister uses social media to arrest alleged sex offender
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
Papua New Guinea’s Police Minister Bryan Kramer has used social media to arrest a man accused of sexually abusing his granddaughter.
Kramer...
Vanuatu government more open under information law, says journalist
By RNZ Pacific
One of Vanuatu's leading journalists has said the right to information law has contributed to an air of openness in the country.
The...
Remote Vanuatu journo goes above and beyond to tell stories
By RNZ Pacific
Clinging to the top of a swaying coconut tree, Vanuatu journalist Edgar Howard carefully plucks out his phone from his pocket.
He's clambered...
Outrage, opposition to Cook Islands Rocketman ban
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
A prominent Cook Islands lawyer intends to take a court challenge against the censor’s impending ban of the film Rocketman, reports the...
Israel Folau ‘misuses’ Bible to justify hatred, says Samoan minister
By Tulia Thompson
A minister of a Pacific church in Auckland has spoken out against rugby star Israel Folau’s homophobic attack.
Samoan Minister Apelu Tielu from...
Cook Islands to follow Samoa and ban Rocketman
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
The movie Rocketman is likely to be banned in the Cook Islands, despite having already been in the cinema for a...
Australia won’t meet Nauru, Manus resettlement target
By RNZ Pacific
The Australian government has conceded it won't meet its target of resettling 1250 refugees held on Nauru and Manus Island.
Home affairs minister...
Keith Jackson: Act now over grave threat facing Australian press freedom
OPEN LETTER: By Keith Jackson
I joined the Australian Journalists Association (now the MEAA - Media Alliance) in, I think, 1971, when I still lived...
Court appearance: Mosque attack survivors’ and families’ painful day
FIRST PERSON: By Katie Todd, of RNZ News, reporting outside the High Court in Christchurch
The latest chapter in the court proceedings of the accused...
PNG and Solomons governments call for changes to forestry
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
Both the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea governments have signalled changes to make their forestry industries more sustainable.
According to Loop...
Solomons academic calls for caution over Taiwan/China decision
By RNZ Pacific
The Solomon Islands government should exercise caution as it considers whether to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan or switch to China, an...
Press freedom under police attack – Democracy Now! probes ABC raid
Press freedom groups are sounding the alarm over a pair of police raids on journalists in Australia. Video: Democracy Now!
By Democracy Now!
Press freedom groups...
Timor-Leste’s lost oil millions blamed on Australia’s ‘rip-off’
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
Fifteen months after a treaty pledged to usher in a “new chapter” in the relationship between Australia and neighbouring Timor-Leste, the...
PNG Highlands tourists rarely attacked despite recent coverage
Pacific Media Watch Newdesk
Despite Papua New Guinea's dangerous reputation, tourists to the country are regarded as "special guests" and are seldom targeted by criminals,...
$154m earmarked for development assistance in Fiji
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
Fiji expects a total value of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2019-2020 to be F$154.4 million, reports FBC News.
According to FBC's...
Auckland Council declares climate emergency after meeting with youth
By RNZ News
Auckland Council has declared a climate emergency after an Environment Committee meeting today.
The council’s motion was passed unanimously and was met with...