AS A TRAINED librarian in a developing country who continuously advocates the need for regular and current information, and especially for the indigenous population, I am always sceptical and pessimistic on the first issue of any periodical. Like everything else in Papua New Guinea today, you have to take your chances in the 'land of the unexpected'.
However, this first issue of Pacific Journalism Review offers a smorgasbord of journalistic skills from James Pinder to Jessie Waibauru -- the experienced to the potential -- of issues current, retrospective and concurrent on communication and information, some more contentious than others, such as 'ecological genocide'. But the issue that is most prevalent in PJR is that of professional ethics, responsibility and accountability by journalists and media agencies and their role in informing and being informed without fear or favour.
PJR provides not only interesting reading but also an informative and often thought-provoking account of recent events in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
Also discussed throughout PJR is the major bone of contention -- NICP. Rev Oria Gemo, by design or not, omits to mention the National Information and Communication Council and alludes to a NIC Plan. The NICC must be established in order to revise the policy and to criticaly look at its viability. Papua New Guinea is the only country in the South Pacific to have a NIC policy. Whether it works or not depends on the foresight of the current ministry decision makers.
The the three papers represented at the July seminar are interesting reading for students, media researchers and those interested in the history of the role of the churches and journalism in communication and information.
Don't be surprised by the emotions you feel. Being informed of the truth, the facts as they happen, is what the PJR writers are about.
I welcome this new publication and look forward to future issues.
Margaret Obi
Acting Head of Department
South Pacific Centre for Communication and Information in Development (SPCenCIID)
University of Papua New Guinea
mobi@hum.uts.edu.au
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