Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

PFF stands in solidarity with Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes'

PFF stands in solidarity with Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes' journalists

SUVA (11 March 2014) -- The Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), the regional media rights and monitoring network, is concerned about the state of editorial independence in New Caledonia’s only daily newspaper, Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, and stands in solidarity with the dwindling number of journalists that remain at the paper.

According to Pacific Media Watch, a statement by the Nouvelles Calédoniennes Journalists’ Association accuses the French High Commissioner of putting pressure on their editorial board, which they say has given in to his demands to publish an article he authored attacking the newspaper’s journalists.

The association’s statement, translated from the French, says journalists were “at the end of their tether and their energy” after High Commissioner Jean-Jacques Brot brought repeated pressure on the newspaper’s board to print his article.

This latest incident comes on the heel of a turbulent eight months at the newspaper, which in the past month has seen almost half of its 44 journalists resigning.

“We are extremely concerned about our colleagues in New Caledonia, especially since it is only a month away from the municipal election and three months away from the major provincial poll,” said Titi Gabi of PNG, the chair of PFF.

“A newspaper should be able to function independently at all times, and even more so in the lead-up to elections. Journalists must be able to freely report news and opinions to give as many voices as possible equitable coverage.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“If the political leanings of the newspaper’s major shareholders are allowed to affect New Caledonia’s only daily paper, it is questionable whether political coverage will remain balanced,” says Gabi.

PFF co-chair Monica Miller, who is based in American Samoa, called on political actors in the French territory to allow the media to operate without undue influence.

“We must condemn the actions of the French High Commissioner in putting further pressure on a newspaper that is without an editor-in-chief and Noumea bureau head, and could also soon be without an assistant editor-in-chief,” Miller said.

“We also call on Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes’ shareholders and directors to respect their journalists as professionals and be transparent with them about the developments at the newspaper,” Miller said.

Pacific Media Watch says in the past eight months, the journalists at the newspaper have regularly gone on strike because of instability, which allegedly began after the newspaper’s former editor, Xavier Serre, left in July 2013.

“With reportedly only two journalists left to cover news in Noumea, the quality of the newspaper’s journalism during this important period will no doubt suffer. It is crucial not only for the newspaper, but for New Caledonia as a whole, that the acrimony between journalists, their bosses and political actors is resolved and not become the professional downfall of the newspaper.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.