Media Freedom Talks At Pacific Media Conference

Press Release Pacific Island Media Association Wednesday 22 September 2010

Media Freedom Talks At Pacific Media Conference

One of the driving forces behind the Pacific's new media freedom group, PasiMA will be the keynote speaker at the 2010 Pacific Island Media Association Conference in Auckland (Friday 1 October 2010).

Kalafi Moala, publisher and CEO of Tonga's Taimi Media Network, will speak on says PasiMA represents a new media approach for the Pacific which includes New Zealand.

"We want to build a relationship with NZ's Pacific media not necessarily for what we can offer the NZ Pacific media but for what the NZ Pacific media can offer the region," says Moala. "Involvement with PasiMA will allow the NZ Pasifika media to engage more regionally in advancing the cause of media freedom promotion, information exchanges, and appropriate training. The PINA constitution does not allow NZ Pacific media membership; PasiMa's constitution does."

PasiMA's formation created a rift with PINA (the Pacific Island News Association organisation based in Fiji), a similar organisation formed in 1972. PINA has been criticised for reneging on its constitutional obligations to oppose censorship and media controls in Fiji

Moala says it's important to take a look at PasiMA's Board and membership, composed primarily of media owners and practitioners - not bureaucrats or just administrators outside of the sphere of media operation.

Savea Sano Malifa, Editor-in-Chief of Samoa Observer, was elected Chair of the new organisation during the group's inaugural meetings last month. Moala was named Vice Chair. John Woods, Managing Editor of Cook Islands News, serves as Secretary-Treasurer.

"PasiMA is an industry-driven organisation that places media owners and operators in the seat of decision making concerning the organisation," says Moala. "It is independent of Govt owned media, who can be associated but not voting members. PasiMA also wants to be independent of donor control. Much of the operation of PasiMA is to be self-funded, and where there needs to be fund raising, it would be for specific projects for the benefit of members."

An invitation was sent to PINA president Moses Stevens, publisher of Ni Vanuatu newspaper, and Matai Akauola, PINA Manager & Training Co-ordinator, to speak at the Pacific Island Media Association conference next Friday. They declined because of financial reasons.

Moala launched Tonga's first independent newspaper, the Taimi 'o Tonga, in 1989 with the objective of bringing alternative perspectives and voices into the Pacific Island kingdom's public sphere. His efforts ultimately contributed to greater media freedom and progress towards political and democratic reform.

Moala is the CEO of the Taimi Media Network (TMN) in Tonga which publishes the Taimi 'o Tonga (published twice weekly), the English language Tonga Chronicle (published weekly), and operates TMN-TV2 broadcast for 6 hours daily on Digicel TV, and the 24 hr Radio FM 88.1.

About PIMA The Pacific Island Media Association was formed in 2000 in Auckland to provide a forum for Pacific media in New Zealand. Each year the organisation and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) offer scholarships for two Pacific students to study communication at AUT. The theme of this year's conference is 'A New Era'.

The 2010 PIMA conference will be held at AUT on Friday 1 October 2010. Registrations cost $20 or $10 for students. For more information go to www.pima.co.nz or email sandra.kailahi@tvnz.co.nz.

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