PIMA Website Comment On John Manukia

PIMA Website Comment On John Manukia

http://www.pima.org.nz/

AUCKLAND (PIMA Online/Pacific Media Watch): The dismissal of long-time senior journalist John Manukia from the Herald On Sunday is a timely reminder of the immense responsibility we have as media professionals.

I'm saddened that a person, a friend, I've known for many years has lost his job but I cannot in good conscience condone his actions in any way.

It is a given in our industry that what we report is newsworthy, accurate, fair and balanced. And usually this involves going to where the news is, analysing data and actually interviewing or meeting people.

When reporters start inventing interviews and making up stories, then they do themselves, their employers, colleagues and their audience an immense disservice.

It is difficult to fathom what motivates one to stray into the 'dark side'. Suffice to say that no one is unaffected, everyone feels betrayed and trust is always the first casualty.

Meitaki Ma'ata
John Utanga
Chairman
PIMA

Background article:
http://www.pmw.c2o.org/2005/nz4818.html

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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
http://www.pmw.c2o.org

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media based in Sydney, Journalism Studies at the University of PNG (UPNG), the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ), Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, and Community Communications Online (c2o).

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