Media freedom in Melanesia under threat
Editors and journalists from around Melanesia met in Brisbane on November 13 to address the increasing threats to media freedom they face on a daily basis and to work with Australian academics, journalists and other colleagues on collaborations at the Melanesian Media Freedom Forum.
The statement of the Industry stream of that Forum – our colleagues from the region – presents a sobering array of issues that need to be addressed: “We call on Melanesian governments to:
• Respect the media and its necessary place in national conversations.
• Require political leaders and senior public servants make themselves available for interviews with their local media.
• Recognise, respect and support National Media Associations as the voice of the media industry.
• Fund public broadcasters properly to ensure they have sufficient equipment and staff to enable their services to reach all citizens in their country and to adequately play their watch-dog role.
• Assure the safety of journalists as they pursue their professional activities.”
Click below to download the MMFF’s statement.
Media freedom in Melanesia under threat
Last update: November 19, 2019
