The suspension decision followed allegations from MNL managers questioning why EMTV was reporting on court proceedings against Australian businessman Jamie Pang. Sincha Dimara explained the coverage was not in contempt, but was routine editorial coverage of Pang as a foreign investor, businessman, and sporting personality.
This statement was originally published on Pacific Freedom Forum’s Facebook page on 11 February 2022.
Pacific media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum joins our Pacific and Papua New Guinea media colleagues in condemnation of the unjust suspension this week of EMTV’s Head of News, Sincha Dimara.
PFF understands Dimara was suspended for three weeks without pay by the management of Media Niugini Limited (EMTV parent company), for allegations of insubordination and damaging the reputation of the company. The suspension was announced to her news colleagues in a memo from the MNL CEO, Lesieli Vete.
Dimara, a news veteran of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, is also one of EMTV’s longest serving journalists. The suspension decision followed allegations from MNL managers questioning why EMTV was reporting current court proceedings against Australian businessman Jamie Pang. Dimara had explained the coverage was not in contempt, but was rather routine editorial coverage of Pang as a foreign investor, businessman, and sporting personality.
The Pacific Freedom Forum is urging MNL management to respect the editorial independence and leadership of their own newsroom, and to immediately reinstate Ms Dimara.
“We urge the CEO and MNL to consider the impact of these heavy-handed decisions on staff morale and indeed, their own credibility in the eyes of the public,” said PFF co-chair, Bernadette Carreon.
“Sadly, this is not the first time our Pacific media veterans of PNG have been treated this way by MNL, and surely this trend of punitive reactions over news already in the public domain across other media platforms, does not help the public perception of their leadership.”
“We stand in solidarity with our EMTV wantoks, and all our media family across Papua New Guinea who work in often difficult situations, to ensure the people are informed and know what is happening,” said Melanesia Co-chair Robert Iroga. “Reporting the proceedings of court cases is an important part of the news cycle and the public interest, and we hope Ms Dimara can be reinstated quickly.”
