Masiu: People want to hear real news, feed them well

Whilst social media platforms are flooded with all sorts of misinformation, the credible, reliable, and objective reporting remains a greater concern for people throughout the country.

Minister for ICT, Timothy Masiu said National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea’s national newsroom must lead in disseminating real news, and journalists must deliver.

"We are faced with new challenges, and that is the social media. And we need to counter the misinformation and the information, disinformation daily to ensure that our people are kept up to date in making sure the information that we send to the news that we write is what the people want.

"I can tell you our people are dying for news. They want to hear the real news. So, it's a challenge.

"It's not a small challenge, may I say. It is a big challenge," Masiu said.

Masiu challenged reporters during the opening of the new newsroom at the NBC headquarters in Port Moresby this morning.

He said the national newsroom has demands and commands respect and authority, and journalists must take this seriously.

"We have lost this, and it is with this newsroom setting that it demands that we must bring back this respect, authority, and quality of news reporting," Masiu said.

He said NBC News PNG is the country’s reliable source of information and must be up to standard with content delivery demanded by people.

The ICT Minister demanded high level of work ethics from all reporters.

"I listen to you all the time, don't forget that. With digital television on board and plans to introduce a 24-hour news channel, it is not an easy task ahead," he added.