SOLOMON ISLANDS: Media awareness lacking in Pacific: Wickham

Ignorance of media in the Pacific is an issue that must be addressed to make people aware - and the Solomon Islands crisis is a good example of this

Pacific Media Watch
Tuesday, April 27, 2004

By Sushil Patel and Veniana Tokaduadua

SUVA (Wansolwara Online/Pacific Media Watch): Ignorance of media in the Pacific is an issue that must be addressed to make people aware - and the Solomon Islands crisis is a good example of this.

This issue was raised by Dorothy Wickham, a freelance journalist reporting for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the US wire service Associated Press.

Speaking at a Suva media conference, Wickham used the example of the conflict in the Solomon Islands to make her point.

She said that a poor understanding of what journalists did and how they worked was a great obstacle when it came to covering the conflict, which began in 1998 between militants from Guadalcanal and Malaita.

"Institutions like the media suffered the most," said Wickham.

"People who were ignorant of the media's role in society were effectively controlling Honiara where all the media organisations operated.

"The threats, harassment and extortion of media organisations were rife. I believe that in the experience of the Solomon Islands, ignorance was the media's greatest enemy."

Wickham said local journalists who may have been on either side of the conflict were hardest hit.

Their neutrality was often questioned whereas foreign journalists had it easier since they were considered "neutral".

"Of course, you felt pity for both sides, but the usual explanation of one having to present facts as they were was always difficult," said Wickham.

She believes the harassment, intimidation and assaults faced by media workers over the past years taught individual journalists and their organisations huge lessons. This would have a positive impact on their work in future.

She said the lack of public knowledge was the media's fault because it had not actively educated the population about the laws that govern and protect its workers.

Media education should start in schools at primary level so future generations would come to understand the work and laws of the media, Wickham added.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and Pactok Communications, in Sydney and Port Moresby. (c)1996-2001 Copyright - All rights reserved.

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members. 

Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.

For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, articles for publication, and giving feedback contact Pacific Media Watch at: E-mail: delaro@clear.net.nz

Date Posted: 4/27/2004