New Pacific Region Media Body Established

New Pacific Region Media Body Established

A new organisation, the Pacific Media Association, has joined the region’s media rights community.

The association, formed at a meeting in Samoa on August 12, endorsed Samoa Observer editor-in-chief Savea Sano-Malifa as chair, publisher and CEO of Tonga’s Taimi Media Network Kalafi Moala as vice-chair, and Cook Islands News managing editor John Woods as secretary-treasurer.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) encourages the strengthening of regional actions on monitoring and reporting of press freedom violations in the Pacific.

“The establishment of the Pacific Media Association upholds a sense of solidarity among the Pasifika media industry,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ welcomes all organisations that strive to achieve the principles of a free press, independent reporting and improved working conditions of journalists and media personnel.”

In July, the IFJ began a new project, Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific, which will assist to strengthen the role of media workers and press freedom advocates in defending and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms across the Pacific Islands.

ENDS

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