(PINA/IFEX) – Australian Sean Dorney’s outstanding reporting of Papua New Guinea over many years has been recognised by PINA. Dorney, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s longtime Papua New Guinea correspondent, was named 1998 PINA Pacific Freedom of Information Award winner during this year’s PINA convention, held in Papeete, French Polynesia. **Updates IFEX alerts of 13 February […]
(PINA/IFEX) – Australian Sean Dorney’s outstanding reporting of Papua New
Guinea over many years has been recognised by PINA. Dorney, the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation’s longtime Papua New Guinea correspondent, was
named 1998 PINA Pacific Freedom of Information Award winner during this
year’s PINA convention, held in Papeete, French Polynesia.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 13 February and 5 January 1998**
A moving citation on Dorney’s constant efforts to provide full, accurate and
fair information was read out to the convention. This was done by John
Eggins, head of news and current affairs for Papua New Guinea’s national
television service, EMTV.
Eggins told of Dorney’s ability to provide understandable information about
such hard-to-report conflicts as the secessionist war on Bougainville
island. He also helped bring understanding about the impact of the jungle
war between pro-independence rebels and Indonesian forces across the border
from Papua New Guinea in Indonesian-ruled Irian Jaya.
Eggins also told of Dorney’s constantly high standards in understanding and
reporting the day-to-day life of Papua New Guinea, often leading the way for
local journalists. He told of the high praise for Dorney’s recent book, The
Sandline Affair. He said it helped people understand what really happened in
the complex multi-million dollar international deals by the then government
to secretly hire foreign mercenaries to attack the Bougainville rebels.
Dorney was also much more than a foreign correspondent, whose reports were
broadcast far away. His reporting of Papua New Guinea came straight back
into the country through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio
and television services to the country.
The respect with which Dorney’s work was held was underlined by one
incident, Eggins said. Dorney was expelled from Papua New Guinea following
an ABC interview with a Free Papua Movement rebel leader across the border
in Irian Jaya which upset the Indonesians. But once the fuss died down he
was allowed to return to live and work in Papua New Guinea, and given a
national award by the then government in recognition of his contribution to
journalism and reporting of Papua New Guinea affairs.
The PINA Pacific Freedom of Information award recognises outstanding efforts
which promote and defend freedom of information and expression in the
Pacific Islands. It is presented during the Pacific Media Freedom Day which
is part of the annual PINA convention. Previous winners have been Dykes
Angiki, of the Media Association of Solomon Islands; Savea Sano Malifa and
Jean Malifa, of the “Samoa Observer” newspaper; Anna Solomon, of Word
Publishing in Papua New Guinea; “The Fiji Times” and “Cook Islands Press”
newspapers; and Vanuatu Ombudswoman Marie Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson.
