“A Gangsta’s Paradise – Not! ”

The Barbara Dreaver story featured on TVNZ Channel One news last week “cracked me off”, to borrow the Laughing Samoans renowned phrase.

How the story was weaved and narrated made it seem like it was being reported directly from a war torn militia/gang controlled country in Africa or South America, courtesy of Al Jazeera.

Put a few wannabe gangsters in gangster attire and weaponry in the same room with a camera and an over-anxious journalist and wa-lah - a “gangster’s paradise rife of drugs and illegal activities operating under the staunch noses of the villages and matai.

I found the story hilarious. Drugs, firearms, illegal activities exist everywhere but to portray Samoa on the same scale of gang related activities in the US or South America was really pushing it and a sad distortion of reality. I would have been quite concerned if I did not know any better.

At best, I thought the segment warranted an entry into “America’s funniest video” show.

Therefore it is not surprising, as reported by Samoa Observer (12th April) that the sources or “gangsters” used by Dreaver in her story are now claiming they had been tricked and misled. The prep emails between Dreaver and her contact in Samoa are also revealing and telling and seem to support these claims.

Based on that information it appears to be a deliberate attempt to misinform or fabricate.

To date, TVNZ has not admitted any wrong doing and stand by their journalist and her story. So who is fooling who here?

Should we have to tell experienced journalists from big media corporations how to do their jobs? We assume and trust that they already know how.

Lest they have forgotten here is a kind reminder, Simpson’s Journalism 101-Do the research, gather the facts, know the difference between fact and fiction, interview credible sources, put things into perspective and above all tell the truth.

That is what we the public expect - nothing more, nothing less.

Eventually the story will die a natural death and be transformed into a tall tale of ‘who fooled who?’ to be told in cheer and mirth with friends and all on a hot humid night in ‘gangsters paradise’.

Tonight in Auckland or Samoa as we turn on the TV for the 6 O’clock news, lets try tuning in to TV3.

Malia Tua’i Manuleleua (16/04/09)
Village Communications

ENDS

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