Posted: November 21, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, South Pacific Region | Tags: Ah Hoi, Apulu Faumuina Lance Polu, barbara dreaver, council, Environment Weekly, Galumalemana Faiesea Lei Sam-Matafeo, Gangs and Drugs in Samoa, jaws, journalism association of western samoa, journalists, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, media, NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority, pacific journalism, post tsunami samoa editor's forum, Prime Minister, samoa, Samoa Prime Minister, Savea Sano Malifa s, Tautua Samoa, Tuilaepa, Tupuola Terry Tavita |
This week in Samoa, the Pacific Media Human Rights Project held a Post-Tsunami Samoa Editors’ Forum with Samoa’s leading journalists. Below is the speech delivered by Samoa’s Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi Tuilaepa on why he supports the set up of a Media Council for Samoa. We have also included here a post published by Journalists Association of (Western)Samoa (JAWS) on this issue. They debate their differences and disagreement on this issue.
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Post Tsunami Samoa Editor’s Forum
Prime Minister’s Remarks
Sailele Malielegaoi Tuilaepa
Tuesday, 17 November – Aggie Grey’s Conference Room
Thank you for inviting me to your Post Tsunami Samoa Editors Forum particularly in view of the vigorous media reaction to my comments on the quality of the media’s reporting of developments in the aftermath of the Tsunami.
In May this year at a function to Commemorate Media Freedom Day, which also included participants from around the region to a seminar organised jointly by UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalist, I had also made a special plea for the media to improve and maintain high reporting standards.
Let me say again that there is no question about the importance to our societies of a media that is able to report news in complete freedom, express opinions and make criticisms without fear of repression. The media’s power to influence public perceptions is a powerful force and is precisely the reason why the media must also accept and observe the great responsibility of ensuring balanced and fair reporting of news and stories.
This is the context of why I kept reminding our media over the weeks following the Tsunami of the importance of maintaining standards of reporting by ensuring that you do not rely on rumours and hearsay but to go and see personally whether a version provided to the reporter is credible, find out what is in fact the widely held view and then report accordingly.
In a sensitive and highly charged situation, such as in the aftermath of the Tsunami, it becomes even more important that the reporter feels assured that the media story is balanced and presents a full picture of what is going on. I do not need to remind on the key roles of the editor and publisher in this process.
I know that there must be heavy pressures of running a media outlet to meet timelines and in achieving the bottom line of making money to operate the business. I recall that not so long ago a well known reporter of New Zealand’s TV One (Barbara Dreaver) was criticised even by some of our media here of sloppy reporting. In that case where it was felt that media standards were violated, there is a Media Council and Tribunal for New Zealand where complaints could be lodged. Indeed that is where complaints have been referred to after that incident. There is nothing similar in Samoa and is why I keep asking leaders in Samoa’s media to do something to help enforce standards. I recall discussing this very concept of a Council with representatives of the media over 5 years ago. My impression then was that you were extremely anxious to go ahead with it as part of the reforms you wanted to do to improve media reporting. For these reasons, I have always supported requests of JAWS to have media workshops and media conferences in Samoa. I also always accept invitations to the JAWS organised events where I can make directly my views, as I am again now making, in the interests of encouraging good standards in media reporting.
One of the important reasons for my perennial reminders on good standards is that if media stories Post Tsunami are not properly collaborated or for some reason are deliberately biased, these can cause much harm to how we are perceived by people of other countries who by and large rely on media reports to form a picture of our country and people.
As I have said before and on countless previous occasions, constructive criticism from the media is indispensable for the development of society. The insidious danger to guard against is when journalists become careless, and worse become egotistical and self-righteous in believing that every opinion they present must be good and right for society because “they have said it”.
My final point which I have also made in remarks I made before in other JAWS events, and are also relevant in the post Tsunami period, is the importance in my view of the media making a more conscious effort to focus on positive stories rather than the often heavy diet of negative ones that the media tends to revert to in daily offerings. A bombardment of negativity can easily sap morale as the people begin to question whether anything good at all is happening in their community.
Finally, I want to let you know that we are doing our best, as we had done from the time of the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami, to help those affected. A great deal has been done and a lot more is being done and will be done in terms of recovery and reconstruction of the areas that were devastated. There is also a strategy to relocate people to higher ground for safety not just in preparation for another Tsunami, but as part of a more general adaptation programme in anticipation of climate change and sea level rise.
Since the Tsunami and in the period ahead, Samoa has worked closely with our international developmental partners and non-government organisations who also have members participating in meetings of the National Disaster Council and Advisory Committee. The participation in the Council and Committee of representative of foreign governments and International organisations including NGOs like the Red Cross provide an effective mechanism for checks and balance against any abuses in the distribution and use of assistance received. As it happened, a negative media report based on hearsay was corrected by overseas volunteers who were part of the distribution teams and whose organisations are members of the Council and Committee. Besides the Council and Committee meetings, there are also separate coordination meetings between major donors and the government. This is the bigger picture that the media seems to miss from time to time.
I do not know whether I will again cop another dose of scathing criticism from the media for my comments this morning. If that happens, I can only comfort myself in the knowledge that the media in a roundabout way has my best interests at heart by acting as my publicity agents!!!
Jokes aside, I want to end my remarks to again encourage you to establish a Media Council to oversee standards even if I get blamed when I do so as being dictatorial and often referred to in some very expressive metaphors from my critics. That is media freedom.
This is the freedom of the media in our country and some of you have won several international awards over it. Even JAWS in its wisdom considered my contribution to ‘the cause’ of media freedom to merit the Award that sits prominently in my office.
I thank you again for inviting me and wish you a successful discussion for the remainder of your Forum.
Soifua.
The other side of this debate
Views differ over PM ‘s call
By Mataafa Keni Lesa
Samoa Observer – Views from media owners and industry leaders differ over the establishment of a media council.
The issue has resurfaced after a challenge from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi to establish one to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa.
The challenge is the result of what the Prime Minister called irresponsible reporting regarding the distribution of aid to tsunami victims.
The Prime Minister said claims of air rort should be investigated before they are publicised.“Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?”
Tuilaepa asked.“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories.”Samoa Observer’s Editor-in-Chief and World Press Freedom Hero, Savea Sano Malifa said he was unsure what “crooked stories” the Prime Minister was talking about.
“It seems that the Prime Minister also wants to control the private media,” he said.
Savea said the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (JAWS) “should desist any attempt by anyone including the Prime Minister to set up a media council.
“Such an eventuality would be an affront to the freedom of expression, democracy and intelligence of the people of this country.
“We already have enough laws to protect members of the public against abuses by the media. An attempt therefore by the Prime Minister to set up a council to censor newspaper reports is totally unnecessary and uncalled for.”
Another veteran journalist, Apulu Faumuina Lance Polu said the need for a Media Council was realised by JAWS “long before this.”
The former President of Pacific Islands News Association and JAWS reminded about “Ian Beales Report through the Commonwealth Foundation. “JAWS, under my time as President and ensuing leaderships saw the need for this many years ago, in order for the media to self regulate rather than being influenced or dictated to by outside forces – politicians included.
“What’s needed is a body similar to the NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority that is supposed to have investigated the Barbara Dreaver’s report, again on complaints of our politicians on her Gangs and Drugs in Samoa report.”
Apulu, however, said it’s not simple because: • Funding and the cost for a panel of (at least three) independent members to review and decide on every complaint on the media.
The Councils brief maybe general not only to cover what maybe perceived as ‘inaccurate’ reporting but general media/ethical standards such as advertising content, language use, programme content (Radio & TV), etc…………
• Legal basis of such a Council so that its decisions should be binding and respected not only by the media outlets but the general public.
• Independence of the council is vital which means looking at the caliber of members here in Samoa.
As their integrity should command public confidence in the media and transcends issues such as media and information freedom and access.
“The bottom line is that such a Council must be useful to everyone and I think JAWS must continue the consultation process in order to refine it to a cost effective and useful entity rather than just another body,” he said.
Apulu said the Prime Minister cannot tell the media what and how to do it’s job.“But I’ve scanned some of the comments made by some Samoans who were here, visited the disaster area and returned overseas and made comments which seem to me are based on a lot of speculations and are in the vein of “according to widely circulated reports…” I have also had such reports and we are investigating.
Tupuola Terry Tavita, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson
“But as we all know, the seriousness of such reports if they could not be substantiated, affect the very victims who are in dire need of the aid. They also affect our credibility when it seems unfair because it is always easy to throw a wild comment in the comfort of distance.
“Some of these reports (Upper Hutt and Christchurch) have also generally labelled us [who have consciously chosen not to migrate to NZ but decided to stay and contribute to building this country over the years], as corrupt.
“So personally, we also owe it to ourselves to expose if there is something to expose and to also substantiate these reports so that the perpetrators be dealt with by the law, not only for the tsunami victims, but for our country’s name and for ourselves as well.”Managing Director of SQB TV One and award-winning producer, Galumalemana Faiesea Lei Sam-Matafeo said it was important for the media to be responsible.
“The Prime Minister is saying the stories lack factual basis, if I’m hearing him correctly,” she said. “He’s asking for more responsible and factual reporting. I mean we should also be responsible. But if the stories are factual, the freedom of information must be protected.”
Of the Prime Minister’s call to stop coverage of Tautua Samoa issues, Galumalemana said: “If there are significant issues that need to be raised with Tautua, their conferences will be covered. That’s what we’re here for. But if a party keeps flogging a dead horse, then we will not waste our resources.”
Editor of Environment Weekly and Secretary of JAWS, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson said the Prime Minister has no right to tell the media what to report on.
“The same way we don’t tell him what laws he should and should not pass,” she said.
“As journalists we too have to be responsible in our reporting, and when dealing with all topics, it is best to ensure accuracy in everything we write.” Lagipoiva said a Media Council will encourage more accountability in the media.
“A media council can preserve the integrity of journalism ethics and ensure that journalists are held accountable for their mistakes, because we do make mistakes,” she said.
“A media council however should be neutral and fair, and that is the challenge especially if the council is made of the heads of the news organisations who may end up disciplining some of their own. It is therefore important to bring in a neutral person to take a major role in the council.”
Editor of the state-owned Savali Newspaper, Tupuola Terry Tavita said claims about aid abuse, such as those made by Litea Ah Hoi, should not be taken at face value.“If you take the time to enquire at the Disaster Management Office, you’ll find that every delivery, every consignment is checked by Treasury at headquarters,” Tupuola said.
“Each delivery is accompanied by a policeman and an officer of the audit office. There are also checkpoints on site and people have to sign up for what they were getting and another team of auditors and treasury people does the follow up to ensure that every time, every good is received and accounted for.
“Regardless of what the Prime Minister said (I don’t speak for him) do you not think we, media people, are doing a great disservice to the hundreds of good and honest people out there not only in the affected areas but manning the DMO, wharves and storage yards, working night and day, for a month now by publishing the unproven comments of people like Ah Hoi?”
Posted: October 15, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, Environment, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: aleipata., american samoa tsunami, and Tonga, Chris Carter, falealili, Joe Annandale’s wife, Labour—Mana, lalomanu, Lepa, luamanuvao winnie laban, Niuatoputapu, pacific tsunamic, Phil Goff and Annette King, poutasi, samoa, Samoa Prime Minister, samoa tsunami, Samoan National Disaster Coordination and Distribution Committee, tonga tsunami, Tui Annandale, Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi |
Transcript of Yesterday’s Parliamentary Motion at 2pm.
Speakers:
- Prime Minister John Key
- Labour Deputy Leader Annette King
- Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman
- Act Party David Garrett
- Maori Party Co-Leader Dr Pita Sharples
- Progressive Leader Jim Anderton
- United Future Peter Dunne
- Labour Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
- National Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
- Labour Su’a William Sio
Pacific Islands—Tsunami
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Labour—Mana) : O le Paia o le Atua i lenei Sauniga Mamalu, O lo’o tatou tapua’i ai ia te ia,o le Alefa ma le Omeka, o le Amataga ma le Gata’aga, o mea uma i lenei olaga e o’o lava i le soifua o le tagata. I greet members in the sacredness of the House of Parliament and our connection as peoples of the Pacific, New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga. Talofa lava, malo lelei, and warm Pacific greetings.
Early on 29 September, Samoan time, I heard the news of the earthquake and tsunami hitting Samoa. As more information came in about the impact of this disaster, I knew that I must go to Samoa. Phil Goff and Annette King, the leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party, encouraged Chris Carter and I to go to Samoa. We did not want to make any fuss or have any media interviews. We just went as soon as we could. I took the first flight I could get to Samoa, and at 2.20 p.m. on that day I was on the plane to Samoa.
During the next 2 days we visited villages on the southern coast of Opolu—Lalomanu, Aleipata, Poutasi, Lepa, Falealili, and much of the area the tsunami devastated. We also spent time at the Moto’otua Hospital. We met with the Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi, and other Samoan Government officials. The Prime Minister asked us to attend a meeting of the Samoan National Disaster Coordination and Distribution Committee, and I also spent time with the Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who is Minister responsible for village councils.
We all talked about how best to help. I went to offer my alofa, support, and encouragement. In difficult times we must be with our people. Members have all seen the photographs in the newspapers and on the television, have heard the voices on the radio, and will all know what things look like in Samoa. Seeing what has happened on the ground was deeply disturbing. Fales were wrecked, churches demolished, villages in ruin, bodies on the beach, and people were scared, traumatised, and in shock.
What the news coverage does not show is the spirit and faith of our people, the alofa, the fa’aaloalo, and agaga—the love, the reciprocity, and spirituality, and our deep belief in God’s love and strength. I was so proud to see the way that Samoans who were suffering were looking after the New Zealanders, Australians, and others who had suffered alongside them, and in turn, New Zealanders and Australians were supporting Samoans. It was great to see that the Kiwi spirit is strong, and everybody was working well together. I was proud to be a Samoan and a New Zealander. I was encouraged by the way that we became one people, one family, in these difficult days.
On Thursday morning we attended the funeral service of my cousin Joe Annandale’s wife, Tui. It was the first of many. Then my cousin Imo took us in a taxi to visit the hospital and all the villages on the southern coast. In the hospital many people were being treated for their injuries and recovering from the physical and emotional trauma. I met a Samoan woman who had lost two of her grandchildren, and New Zealanders who had lost children and other family members. One Kiwi couple had lost their child of 2½ years. In the villages we met Samoans who had lost 10 or more family members. We also met the Taufua family. In Poutasi one of the wives of the pastors had passed on.
The loss is great. So many people have lost everything. The people whom I talked to asked for support to come direct: family to family, village to village, and church to church. In time, the villages will be rebuilt. The scars on the landscape will soon be smoothed away, the trees and the plants will grow again, and schools, churches, and businesses will be re-established. But it will take much longer to heal the loss of family and friends. Those whom we have lost will be with us for ever. “Inside us our dead, our dead are the proud robes our souls wear. We are the remembered cord that stretches across the abyss of all that we have forgotten. We don’t inherit the past, but a creation of our remembering.”
Let us remember those we have lost in the disaster. Let us stand with our people during this time of suffering, and give them support, hope, and encouragement. Let us work together to support the peoples of Samoa, Niuatoputapu, and Tonga with their rebuilding. In English, I say: “The heart of the earth weeps with sadness, but God’s strength will grant us healing and peace.”Tatou te momoe ma manu ae lilo mala e ati a’e. E tagi le fatu ma le ‘ele‘ele o le puapuaga, ae to’a i le Atua lona filemu.
Archives to March 2010 - PEW 
Two Sides, Different Views: Post Tsunami Samoa Editors’ Forum
Posted: November 21, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, education, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, South Pacific Region | Tags: Ah Hoi, Apulu Faumuina Lance Polu, barbara dreaver, council, Environment Weekly, Galumalemana Faiesea Lei Sam-Matafeo, Gangs and Drugs in Samoa, jaws, journalism association of western samoa, journalists, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, media, NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority, pacific journalism, post tsunami samoa editor's forum, Prime Minister, samoa, Samoa Prime Minister, Savea Sano Malifa s, Tautua Samoa, Tuilaepa, Tupuola Terry Tavita | 2 CommentsThis week in Samoa, the Pacific Media Human Rights Project held a Post-Tsunami Samoa Editors’ Forum with Samoa’s leading journalists. Below is the speech delivered by Samoa’s Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi Tuilaepa on why he supports the set up of a Media Council for Samoa. We have also included here a post published by Journalists Association of (Western)Samoa (JAWS) on this issue. They debate their differences and disagreement on this issue.
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Post Tsunami Samoa Editor’s Forum
Prime Minister’s Remarks
Sailele Malielegaoi Tuilaepa
Tuesday, 17 November – Aggie Grey’s Conference Room
Thank you for inviting me to your Post Tsunami Samoa Editors Forum particularly in view of the vigorous media reaction to my comments on the quality of the media’s reporting of developments in the aftermath of the Tsunami.
In May this year at a function to Commemorate Media Freedom Day, which also included participants from around the region to a seminar organised jointly by UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalist, I had also made a special plea for the media to improve and maintain high reporting standards.
Let me say again that there is no question about the importance to our societies of a media that is able to report news in complete freedom, express opinions and make criticisms without fear of repression. The media’s power to influence public perceptions is a powerful force and is precisely the reason why the media must also accept and observe the great responsibility of ensuring balanced and fair reporting of news and stories.
This is the context of why I kept reminding our media over the weeks following the Tsunami of the importance of maintaining standards of reporting by ensuring that you do not rely on rumours and hearsay but to go and see personally whether a version provided to the reporter is credible, find out what is in fact the widely held view and then report accordingly.
In a sensitive and highly charged situation, such as in the aftermath of the Tsunami, it becomes even more important that the reporter feels assured that the media story is balanced and presents a full picture of what is going on. I do not need to remind on the key roles of the editor and publisher in this process.
I know that there must be heavy pressures of running a media outlet to meet timelines and in achieving the bottom line of making money to operate the business. I recall that not so long ago a well known reporter of New Zealand’s TV One (Barbara Dreaver) was criticised even by some of our media here of sloppy reporting. In that case where it was felt that media standards were violated, there is a Media Council and Tribunal for New Zealand where complaints could be lodged. Indeed that is where complaints have been referred to after that incident. There is nothing similar in Samoa and is why I keep asking leaders in Samoa’s media to do something to help enforce standards. I recall discussing this very concept of a Council with representatives of the media over 5 years ago. My impression then was that you were extremely anxious to go ahead with it as part of the reforms you wanted to do to improve media reporting. For these reasons, I have always supported requests of JAWS to have media workshops and media conferences in Samoa. I also always accept invitations to the JAWS organised events where I can make directly my views, as I am again now making, in the interests of encouraging good standards in media reporting.
One of the important reasons for my perennial reminders on good standards is that if media stories Post Tsunami are not properly collaborated or for some reason are deliberately biased, these can cause much harm to how we are perceived by people of other countries who by and large rely on media reports to form a picture of our country and people.
As I have said before and on countless previous occasions, constructive criticism from the media is indispensable for the development of society. The insidious danger to guard against is when journalists become careless, and worse become egotistical and self-righteous in believing that every opinion they present must be good and right for society because “they have said it”.
My final point which I have also made in remarks I made before in other JAWS events, and are also relevant in the post Tsunami period, is the importance in my view of the media making a more conscious effort to focus on positive stories rather than the often heavy diet of negative ones that the media tends to revert to in daily offerings. A bombardment of negativity can easily sap morale as the people begin to question whether anything good at all is happening in their community.
Finally, I want to let you know that we are doing our best, as we had done from the time of the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami, to help those affected. A great deal has been done and a lot more is being done and will be done in terms of recovery and reconstruction of the areas that were devastated. There is also a strategy to relocate people to higher ground for safety not just in preparation for another Tsunami, but as part of a more general adaptation programme in anticipation of climate change and sea level rise.
Since the Tsunami and in the period ahead, Samoa has worked closely with our international developmental partners and non-government organisations who also have members participating in meetings of the National Disaster Council and Advisory Committee. The participation in the Council and Committee of representative of foreign governments and International organisations including NGOs like the Red Cross provide an effective mechanism for checks and balance against any abuses in the distribution and use of assistance received. As it happened, a negative media report based on hearsay was corrected by overseas volunteers who were part of the distribution teams and whose organisations are members of the Council and Committee. Besides the Council and Committee meetings, there are also separate coordination meetings between major donors and the government. This is the bigger picture that the media seems to miss from time to time.
I do not know whether I will again cop another dose of scathing criticism from the media for my comments this morning. If that happens, I can only comfort myself in the knowledge that the media in a roundabout way has my best interests at heart by acting as my publicity agents!!!
Jokes aside, I want to end my remarks to again encourage you to establish a Media Council to oversee standards even if I get blamed when I do so as being dictatorial and often referred to in some very expressive metaphors from my critics. That is media freedom.
This is the freedom of the media in our country and some of you have won several international awards over it. Even JAWS in its wisdom considered my contribution to ‘the cause’ of media freedom to merit the Award that sits prominently in my office.
I thank you again for inviting me and wish you a successful discussion for the remainder of your Forum.
Soifua.
The other side of this debate
Source: JAWS website
Views differ over PM ‘s call
By Mataafa Keni Lesa
Samoa Observer – Views from media owners and industry leaders differ over the establishment of a media council.
The issue has resurfaced after a challenge from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi to establish one to monitor standards of reporting in Samoa.
The challenge is the result of what the Prime Minister called irresponsible reporting regarding the distribution of aid to tsunami victims.
The Prime Minister said claims of air rort should be investigated before they are publicised.“Why haven’t you been able to set up a body where you can investigate yourselves?”
Tuilaepa asked.“I’m talking about journalists who carry stories without investigating them first. In New Zealand and Australia, they have councils, who punish writers like that.
“But we cannot have a council in Samoa when the old heads running newspapers lead by example in bringing crooked stories.”Samoa Observer’s Editor-in-Chief and World Press Freedom Hero, Savea Sano Malifa said he was unsure what “crooked stories” the Prime Minister was talking about.
“It seems that the Prime Minister also wants to control the private media,” he said.
Savea said the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (JAWS) “should desist any attempt by anyone including the Prime Minister to set up a media council.
“Such an eventuality would be an affront to the freedom of expression, democracy and intelligence of the people of this country.
“We already have enough laws to protect members of the public against abuses by the media. An attempt therefore by the Prime Minister to set up a council to censor newspaper reports is totally unnecessary and uncalled for.”
Another veteran journalist, Apulu Faumuina Lance Polu said the need for a Media Council was realised by JAWS “long before this.”
The former President of Pacific Islands News Association and JAWS reminded about “Ian Beales Report through the Commonwealth Foundation. “JAWS, under my time as President and ensuing leaderships saw the need for this many years ago, in order for the media to self regulate rather than being influenced or dictated to by outside forces – politicians included.
“What’s needed is a body similar to the NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority that is supposed to have investigated the Barbara Dreaver’s report, again on complaints of our politicians on her Gangs and Drugs in Samoa report.”
Apulu, however, said it’s not simple because: • Funding and the cost for a panel of (at least three) independent members to review and decide on every complaint on the media.
The Councils brief maybe general not only to cover what maybe perceived as ‘inaccurate’ reporting but general media/ethical standards such as advertising content, language use, programme content (Radio & TV), etc…………
• Legal basis of such a Council so that its decisions should be binding and respected not only by the media outlets but the general public.
• Independence of the council is vital which means looking at the caliber of members here in Samoa.
As their integrity should command public confidence in the media and transcends issues such as media and information freedom and access.
“The bottom line is that such a Council must be useful to everyone and I think JAWS must continue the consultation process in order to refine it to a cost effective and useful entity rather than just another body,” he said.
Apulu said the Prime Minister cannot tell the media what and how to do it’s job.“But I’ve scanned some of the comments made by some Samoans who were here, visited the disaster area and returned overseas and made comments which seem to me are based on a lot of speculations and are in the vein of “according to widely circulated reports…” I have also had such reports and we are investigating.
Tupuola Terry Tavita, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson
“But as we all know, the seriousness of such reports if they could not be substantiated, affect the very victims who are in dire need of the aid. They also affect our credibility when it seems unfair because it is always easy to throw a wild comment in the comfort of distance.
“Some of these reports (Upper Hutt and Christchurch) have also generally labelled us [who have consciously chosen not to migrate to NZ but decided to stay and contribute to building this country over the years], as corrupt.
“So personally, we also owe it to ourselves to expose if there is something to expose and to also substantiate these reports so that the perpetrators be dealt with by the law, not only for the tsunami victims, but for our country’s name and for ourselves as well.”Managing Director of SQB TV One and award-winning producer, Galumalemana Faiesea Lei Sam-Matafeo said it was important for the media to be responsible.
“The Prime Minister is saying the stories lack factual basis, if I’m hearing him correctly,” she said. “He’s asking for more responsible and factual reporting. I mean we should also be responsible. But if the stories are factual, the freedom of information must be protected.”
Of the Prime Minister’s call to stop coverage of Tautua Samoa issues, Galumalemana said: “If there are significant issues that need to be raised with Tautua, their conferences will be covered. That’s what we’re here for. But if a party keeps flogging a dead horse, then we will not waste our resources.”
Editor of Environment Weekly and Secretary of JAWS, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson said the Prime Minister has no right to tell the media what to report on.
“The same way we don’t tell him what laws he should and should not pass,” she said.
“As journalists we too have to be responsible in our reporting, and when dealing with all topics, it is best to ensure accuracy in everything we write.” Lagipoiva said a Media Council will encourage more accountability in the media.
“A media council can preserve the integrity of journalism ethics and ensure that journalists are held accountable for their mistakes, because we do make mistakes,” she said.
“A media council however should be neutral and fair, and that is the challenge especially if the council is made of the heads of the news organisations who may end up disciplining some of their own. It is therefore important to bring in a neutral person to take a major role in the council.”
Editor of the state-owned Savali Newspaper, Tupuola Terry Tavita said claims about aid abuse, such as those made by Litea Ah Hoi, should not be taken at face value.“If you take the time to enquire at the Disaster Management Office, you’ll find that every delivery, every consignment is checked by Treasury at headquarters,” Tupuola said.
“Each delivery is accompanied by a policeman and an officer of the audit office. There are also checkpoints on site and people have to sign up for what they were getting and another team of auditors and treasury people does the follow up to ensure that every time, every good is received and accounted for.
“Regardless of what the Prime Minister said (I don’t speak for him) do you not think we, media people, are doing a great disservice to the hundreds of good and honest people out there not only in the affected areas but manning the DMO, wharves and storage yards, working night and day, for a month now by publishing the unproven comments of people like Ah Hoi?”