Media And Government Relations In Papua New Guinea

All is not well with news media in Papua New Guinea. Media and government relations are stressed, a situation adverse to the country's development. Media organisations have to deal with operational difficulties, threats against editorial freedom, and harassment or physical danger experienced by journalists. Yet there are positive factors providing hope for the future, especially that key element, freedom to publish, which goes together with a habit of openess in public life as part of the national culture. That is the main finding of a study made during a working visit to Papua New Guinea

Striving to realise the European idea: Judging the news media's accounts of how the Berlin Wall gave impetus to a new order across Europe

The 1990 European Community was taken by surprise, by the urgency of demands from the newly-elected Eastern European governments to become member countries. Those governments were honouring the mass social movement of the streets, the year before, demanding free elections and a liberal economic system associated with “Europe”. The mass movement had actually been accompanied by much activity within institutional politics, in Western Europe, the former “satellite” states, the Soviet Union and the United States, to set up new structures – with German reunification and an expanded EC as the centre-piece. This paper draws on the writer’s doctoral dissertation on mass media in the collapse of the Eastern bloc, focused on the Berlin Wall – documenting both public protests and institutional negotiations. For example the writer as a correspondent in Europe from that time, recounts interventions of the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, at a European summit in Paris nine days after the “Wall”, and separate negotiations with the French President, Francois Mitterrand -- on the reunification, and EU monetary union after 1992. Through such processes, the “European idea” would receive fresh impetus, though the EU which eventuated, came with many altered expectations. It is argued here that as a result of the shock of 1989, a “social” Europe can be seen emerging, as a shared experience of daily life -- especially among people born during the last two decades of European consolidation. The paper draws on the author’s major research, in four parts: (1) Field observation from the strategic vantage point of a news correspondent. This includes a treatment of evidence at the time, of the wishes and intentions of the mass public (including the unexpected drive to join the European Community), and those of governments, (e.g. thoughts of a “Tienanmen Square solution” in East Berlin, versus the non-intervention policies of the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev). (2) A review of coverage of the crisis of 1989 by major news media outlets, treated as a history of the process. (3) As a comparison, and a test of accuracy and analysis; a review of conventional histories of the crisis appearing a decade later.(4) A further review, and test, provided by journalists responsible for the coverage of the time, as reflection on practice – obtained from semi-structured interviews

George Negus: news in media and society in the 21st century

The interview was commissioned by M/C Dialogue online journal as one in a series with "cultural scholars". George Negus as a veteran reporter, presenter and commentator in Australian television current affairs, was questioned about responses of the journalistic profession to changes dveeloping in media at the start of this Century. He adopts a position that practitioners must adjust to the "opportunities" of new media, convergence or globalisation. In response to proliferation of media producers and outlets, he advocates a continuing role for professional journalists as centrally placed sense-makers. He says: "I hink what the information age will do is make analytical and opinion journalism even more important than it always has been, because the information being available to you, you’ll probably still require assistance in sifting it, assessing it, evaluating it … I think the great paradox will be that as information journalism becomes less important, because the information will be so freely available to any one of these gatekeepers, self styled journalists, the opinion journalism, and commentary and analysis will become more important – because most people don’t have time to do that; they’re too busy doing other things.

Successes and stresses: A case study on relations between international higher degree students in Australia and their universities

The paper examines the situation of postgraduate international students studying in Australia, mostly at doctoral level; a group widely seen as sought-after by Australian universities and employers, though also exposed to difficulties in aspects like learning culture, language and temporary employment. The investigation follows a novel path, as an exercise in practice-led research on issues involved in Higher Degree supervision. It is in fact an exercise within an advanced program of professional development for HD research supervisors. It begins by deploying a journalistic method, to obtain and present information. This has entailed the publishing of two feature articles about the lives of scholars for Subtropic, a campus based online magazine in Brisbane, www.subtropic.com.au. The next step is a review of a set of supervisions, citing issues raised in individual cases. Parallels can be seen between the two information-getting and analytical processes, with scope for contradictions. An exegetical statement deals with supervisory issues that have been exposed, and implications for learning, with recommendations for developing the quality of the experience of these students

Forgetting PNG? Australian media coverage of Papua New Guinea

Coverage of Papua New Guinea in Australian media has been a source of resentment and dissatisfaction since the former Territory’s independence in 1975. A survey of media content in Australia has been made, to retrace collaborative research during 2007-11 that showed overall low volumes of coverage much of it negative in cast. The Australian ABC provided some exception, maintaining a Port Moresby correspondent. The present study finds the volume of coverage has increased slightly with indications of more positive approaches in reporting on the country. It contrasts disinterest in PNG among established press and commercial television, with the ongoing contribution of ABC, and the ‘new media’ Guardian Australia making a targeted and well-serviced entry into the field

Building independent media: Sustaining democratic freedoms

This article examines trends in new media journalism, identifying an independent sector which began to emerge with the internet circa 2000. It finds that publications from initially single-person start-ups like Crikey, to the large circulation New Daily, have proved viable and durable, providing alternatives to mainstream print and broadcast media. They have specialised in politics while publishing also in many other fields, characteristically emphasising user participation in both production and funding and exploiting possibilities of new digital models. This article has case studies of the publications Independent Australia, and the New Zealand-based Asia Pacific Report, to further explain the independents’ motivation and mode of operation. It reviews the media environment in two parts: a first phase from 2000 to 2010 and a second major change after 2010 with smart phones and social media. Conclusions are made that the independent sector stands to play a central role in sustaining democracy

Media and global conflict: An International Crisis Group case study

The Pacific region is part of a larger world, far from being as isolated from centres of global power as a glance at the map might imply, but instead caught up in a web of multilateral relations with binding effects on its future progress and prosperity. This article considers such connections, in regard to both governmental and non-governmental agencies, referring in particular to the proliferation of highly influential non-governmental organisations in the region, as in the world at large. It treats the European Union handling of the December 2006 Fijian coup d'état and its aftermath as a case study in government-to-government relations, and it provides secondly a detailed case study on the operations of one outstanding example of a non-governmental organisation, the International Crisis Group.&nbsp

Student reporting abroad: An international programme called Journalism Reporting Field Trips

A programme organised by the author for journalism students to do practical work overseas has seen small groups engaged in intercultural learning and working as foreign correspondents for campus-based media outlets. Since 2000, 60 students have joined nine tours of 10–20 days in nine countries of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. They obtain credit for a full elective subject, e.g. an individual study unit, and may negotiate additional credits.  This investigation concludes that such programmes can occcupy a valuable place in core curricula; relate to increasing demand for 'real world' learning and internationalisation, and can be integrated into degree structures without undue stain on resources.&nbsp

Journalism Education: Journalism Reporting Field Trips and internationalisation of the curriculum

A program organised by the writer for journalism students to do practical work overseas has seen small groups experiencing inter-cultural learning and working as foreign correspondents for campus-based media outlets. Since 2000, 52 students have joined eight tours of 14 – 21 days, in nine Asian and European countries. They obtain credit for a full elective unit ... A main aspect of the project is its adaptation of professional practice and early experience to the demands and ambiance of globalised media industries, which will encompass, (a) high satisfaction in the range, import and colour of news and other materials to be dealt with, (b) the stimulus of cultural learning, and (b) awareness-building through exposure to the stress of isolation and security issues in unfamiliar places. In more directly pedagogical terms the project’s rationale is that while practice focuses the mind on essential communication tasks, practice in distant and unfamiliar settings intensifies the experience – hence learning. An “industry standard” experience, it replicates journalistic practice of overseas correspondents ... This practice dovetails with increasing curriculum internationalisation. A literature has been consulted identifying principal pedagogical arguments for study abroad, and present-day demands on the academy, e.g. preparation of professionals needing to work in their profession anywhere in a “world community”... The paper assesses documentation kept on field trip itineraries; observations made by staff when the students were accompanied; students’ diaries on inter-cultural experiences; costs, overwhelmingly but not exclusively met by the students themselves; and the output of news, features or special programs. Outcomes list student products and feed-back, marks obtained against usual GPA performances, and students’ later achievements. Most participants are motivated to strive in all fields and later have a strong jobs record. Special features are considered, e.g. language learning in contemporary journalism; the program’s popularity among postgraduate students. The investigation concludes such programs have a valuable place in core curricula; relate to increasing demand for “real world” learning, and internationalisation; and can be integrated into degree structures without undue strain on resources. It is proposed that applied learning towards meeting the demands of internationalised journalism is helpful to entry level journalists and stands to assist them to turn out quality products