(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 21 October 2001 PINA news release: Fiji, Solomons news media honoured for courage in coup crises Madang, Papua New Guinea (PINA Nius Online) – The brave work of Fiji and Solomons Islands news media during last year’s coup crises and ethnic conflict was recognised in awards announced at the […]
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 21 October 2001 PINA news release:
Fiji, Solomons news media honoured for courage in coup crises
Madang, Papua New Guinea (PINA Nius Online) – The brave work of Fiji and Solomons Islands news media during last year’s coup crises and ethnic conflict was recognised in awards announced at the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) convention here.
Solomon Star publishers John and Cathy Lamani, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Fiji Television, The Fiji Times and radio journalist Malakai Veisamasama received awards.
Also honoured in other awards were courageous Samoan newspaper publishers Savea and Jean Malifa, veteran regional journalist Robert Keith-Reid, and Guam’s Pacific Daily News.
Regional and Papua New Guinea national awards were given out in PINA convention award ceremonies held at the Haus Win at Madang Resort Hotel, in northern Papua New Guinea.
PINA regional award winners and the citations for their awards were:
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation – for true dedication to public service broadcasting, helping the people throughout the Solomon Islands during the ethnic conflict and the Honiara takeover and coup. They did this despite many and intense pressures on the corporation and the people who work for it and while many other institutions of Solomon Islands society collapsed around them.
John and Cathy Lamani (Solomon Star) – for national media leadership throughout the Solomon Islands ethnic conflict, maintaining vigorous publication of the Solomon Star and helping provide stability while many other institutions of Solomon Islands society collapsed around them. They did so despite enormous pressures on both of them and constant efforts to intimidate them.
Fiji Television – for outstanding effort in quickly and fearlessly resuming broadcasting and serving the people of Fiji despite the wrecking of the station by rebels, threats to the company and its staff, and the collapse of revenue during the Fiji coup crisis. They showed how commercial broadcasters can also be in the front lines of public service broadcasting.
The Fiji Times – for uninterrupted, unintimidated, and expanded service and leadership to the people throughout the Fiji coup crisis. They were there leading from the front when the people of Fiji needed them most. They showed just how well a dedicated newspaper company and its people can serve and help sustain their community in times of great adversity.
Malakai Veisamasama (Communications Fiji Limited) – for courageous and fearless reporting from the dangerous front lines throughout the Fiji coup crisis, epitomising the work of Fiji’s radio stations to provide the people with fair, balanced and accurate information throughout the darkest days and despite personal pressures. Special mention should be made of his courageous efforts to rescue other journalists under attack.
Savea and Jean Malifa (Samoa Observer) – for the vindication of their many years of fearless defence of the right of the people of Samoa to freedom of information and expression. They did this despite serious attacks on both them and their property and real threats to their lives. They courageously shone light on dark places and in the end the truth prevailed.
Pacific Daily News, Guam – for the highest standard and its constant commitment to reporting and investigating crucial environmental issues, not just in Guam but throughout the North Pacific. They have set the true standards of excellence and commitment in environmental journalism in the public interest. They provide something for the rest of the region to aspire to.
Robert Keith-Reid, Islands Business International (Fiji) – for decades Keith-Reid has devoted himself to tirelessly pioneering the development of top regional publications and the regional information flow. His own outstanding journalism has personally set the benchmark for informed explanatory reporting on governance, business and economics throughout the Pacific Islands. He has shown constantly that Pacific Islands news media can match that of anywhere in the world.
The award ceremonies were held before radio, TV, print and online media executives and senior journalists from throughout the region.
The presentations were made by British High Commissioner Simon Scadden, Papua New Guinea National Events Council chairperson Sir Peter Barter and Father Jan Czuba, president of Papua New Guinea’s Divine Word University.
The PINA convention was hosted and organised by the Papua New Guinea Media Council and had the theme The Media and the Pacific Child.
