Journalists

These journalists, selected from NBC TV/Radio, EMTV, PNGTV, PNGFM, FM100, National, Post-Courier and Wantok Niuspepa, have gone through the week-long training which consisted of a series of practical sessions on research, interviewing, data mining, writing, and the application of ethics and values of journalism.

“The United Nations in Papua New Guinea values the media and journalists as key influencers and as vital catalysts to inform people,” said Roy Trivedy, the UN resident coordinator in Papua New Guinea.

Thomas Frank, who wrote the story in question; Eric Lichtblau, an editor in the unit; and Lex Haris, who oversaw the unit, have all left CNN.

"In the aftermath of the retraction of a story published on CNN.com, CNN has accepted the resignations of the employees involved in the story's publication," a spokesman said Monday evening.

An internal investigation by CNN management found that some standard editorial processes were not followed when the article was published, people briefed on the results of the investigation said.

“Is your content empowering or disempowering Papua New Guineans?” asked Council president Alexander Rheeney.

“If your content is not empowering Papua New Guineans then sorry, you have no business in the media industry.”

Speaking during the recent Yumi-Olgeta media get-together, Rheeney highlighted the disappointing, continuous drop in media standards in the country.

“Individual media organisations need to address the situation in their own newsrooms because at the end of the day, your content is disempowering Papua New Guineans.”

National Public Radio (NPR) Ombudsman and public editor based in the United States, Elizabeth Jensen, said the role of journalism today is to give the public facts so they can decide for themselves on issues.

Speaking at the Jefferson Fellowships 50th Anniversary event, attended by Asia Pacific journalists on Monday, May 8, in Hawaii, Jensen explained that it all goes back to basics.

“We have to remind the public of what journalism is designed to do and sometimes we have to remind ourselves as journalists,” Jensen said.

This has compelled journalists and news editors to self-censor news and consequently deny Papua New Guinean readers and viewers access to factual, balanced, impartial and objective reporting.  

Council president Alexander Rheeney said: “Last year had its challenges for media industry personnel and the first four months of this year appear to be no different to 2016, with news organisations alerting the MCPNG to two incidents of interference by those in authority.

This program, in the form of a tour, is a lead up activity that the second largest city in Japan is hosting before the 50th ADB meet in May.

Journalists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives and Papua New Guinea will be given an insight of the city’s infrastructure, technology, lifestyle as well as arts and history this week.

Papua New Guinea is being represented by Loop PNG’s Sally Pokiton.

The Election Training Workshop for journalist is organised by the PNG Electoral Commission and supported by the Australia Electoral Commission.

The three days’ workshop held outside of Port Moresby will end today.  

Deputy Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai in his opening remarks on Monday, urged the participants to understand the electoral cycle to assist them when disseminating information to the public.

Speaking at the funeral service today at the Sir Kami Memorial Church in Port Moresby, O’Neill said late Susuve was a very unique journalist who always did research before writing his stories and always get along easily with his peers.

He said many journalists in this current era lack balanced stories and are not fair compare to past journalists in the likes of late Susuve and his peers in that era.

O’Neill said the late Susuve was also an adviser and contributed to many policies implemented by the past and current government.

President of the PNG Media Council Alexander Rheeney challenged 15 journalists from various media newsrooms in Port Moresby including one from Loop PNG who underwent the Thomson Reuters journalist training.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to journalists on Friday afternoon in Port Moresby, Rheeney thanked the United Nations for funding the training as well as the trainers who ran the week-long Reuters foundation course.

WPFD celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

More than 100 national celebrations take place each year to commemorate this day.

UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration by identifying the global thematic and organising the main event in different parts of world every year.