Masiu calls for action to improve media in the Pacific

PNG Minister for Communication and Information Technology [ICT] Timothy Masiu has used his status as the special envoy of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting [AIBD] to call for action on the perilous state of the media in the Pacific.

Minister Masiu said like other media around the world, Pacific media is under threat hence, a Call to Action must be taken on this reality.

“As we move forward, it is crucial that we continue to focus on building the capacity of our media institutions.

“This means, not only addressing the technological and knowledge gaps, but also fostering a culture of resilience and innovation within our media community,” he told the delegates representing more than 20 countries.

The Minister said the AIBD’s commitment to supporting the region’s efforts has been unwavering and he will continue to ensure that the Pacific remains an integral part of these discussions.

“A good start would be to encourage and endear regular exchanges between our universities, including the USP [University of South Pacific], the University of Papua New Guinea, the University of Divine Word and others in the Region.

“The Asia Region also has some of the finest universities in the world but there is minimal or nil interaction with the Pacific in terms of staff & student exchanges and joint research in media.

“This is a major gap that we can collectively and easily address,” he said.

The Minister said a lack of vision or a clear path in media research “is a pity and a missed opportunity” because we could address many of our media challenges through research-based solutions.

“Climate change is one that comes to mind. When launching the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific, Pacific leaders reaffirmed that climate change remains the region's single greatest security threat.

“Yet we see very little climate change research in the Pacific from a media perspective.

“The lack of focus on research is a major gap when talking about revitalizing Pacific media, and I wish for this Summit to start addressing this issue,” he said.

The Minister said without academic focus, media revitalization would be neither deep, sustainable nor futuristic.