Samoa PM’s lays heavy hand on local media
MEDIA freedom in the Pacific is once again under the spotlight – this time in
Media
Whispers
SOME Pacific nations have birds that do not fly. And there are those birds that, because they could not fly, eventually fell prey to
Bridging science and storytelling in Pacific media
THE Media Masterclass, focused on enhancing regional resilience through the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), kicked off this week in Koror, Palau, bringing together journalists,
Make it safe: Regional push for safer, more inclusive journalism
THE inaugural Women in Media (WiM) Conference 2025 concluded in Suva, Fiji, after two days of dialogue, panel discussions, and policy engagement under the theme “Resilience in a Rapidly Evolving Media
A tale of courage
NEWSROOMS are pressure cookers – people racing against weekly, daily, and hourly deadlines. And sometimes the race is against multiple deadlines in three different
Two faces of technology: Pacific Media open to manipulation
Technology is a double-edged sword. It is capable of significant benefits when wielded correctly, and of damage when not. This tension was brought into focus in late 2024, when a manipulated image of a news story
Voices for change: Women in media unite
“You have the power to change the narrative.” That was the rallying call from Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran as she opened the inaugural Women in Media Conference at the Grand Pacific
PNG Opposition MP Bird slams media crackdown
Papua New Guinea Opposition MP and East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird Allan Bird has issued a scathing rebuke of recent actions taken by government-linked entities against journalists, calling for a nationwide boycott of
Death of a Hero: Vanuatu media freedom fighter falls
Once seen as a troublesome foreign media person, Marc Neil Jones has been laid to rest as a hero in his new home,
Marc Neil-Jones, Vanuatu’s media pioneer, passes away
The publisher of Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper Marc Neil-Jones has passed away on Monday following a long illness. Jones, 67, a British national, was a world traveller in his younger years, who teamed up with his
PNG Media Policy ready for enactment
The cabinet has officially given the green light to the PNG media policy, which will soon be presented to Parliament for formal enactment. Minister for Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Timothy Masiu,
Opinion: Another ‘small death’ for local journalism
Seven years ago, one of Saipan Tribune’s contributors asked me if there was some sort of collusion between the Saipan Tribune and its competitor, the Marianas Variety. Did the two newspapers share information and have
Saipan Tribune to write ‘30’ at year’s end
Saipan Tribune will write “30”—or cease operations—on 31 December 2024, according to a statement from the
Opinion: The Pacific Islands News Association at 50: part 2
A perspective on the history and future of the Pacific Islands News Association from incoming President Kalafi
Ban on journalist during PNG visit by Indonesia’s Prabowo condemned
Papua New Guinea’s media council has condemned as “concerning” and “shameful” the exclusion of a BenarNews journalist from media events during a visit by Indonesia’s President-elect to the capital Port
Pacific journalists’ resilience shines through at historic conference
Despite the many challenges faced by Pacific journalists in recent years, the Pacific International Media Conference highlighted the incredible strength and courage of the region’s reporters. The three-day event
Opinion: Pacific elder excoriates Australia on AUKUS panel with Bob Carr
Former foreign minister Bob Carr recently described AUKUS as “fragrant, methane-wrapped bullshit”. This remark — tailor-made for the headlines — was covered by media outlets on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Samoan broadcaster and social advocate Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong dies
Samoan broadcaster, TV personality and MC Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong is being remembered as a vibrant voice in the Pacific community. Tofilau died last week after a long battle with cancer. She was laid to rest yesterday
Former PNG PM worried about laws to curb media, freedom of speech
The Papua New Guinea Government plans to introduce laws to curb free speech and freedom of the press, former prime minister Peter O’Neill says. In a statement, O’Neill said the same law would jail any journalist or
Iroga optimistic on Solomon Islands media sector
A veteran Solomon Islands journalist says the country’s media industry is vibrant and amongst the most independent in the region. Robert Iroga, founder and publisher of Solomons Business Magazine recently told
Solomon Islands newspaper promised to ‘promote China’ in return for funding: OCCRP
A major newspaper in Solomon Islands received nearly US$140,000 in funding from the Chinese government in return for pledges to “promote the truth about China’s generosity and its true intentions to help develop”
Uludong denies claims on Palau media deal
The publisher of Palau’s Tia Belau newspaper has vehemently denied that a deal with Chinese investors was an “espionage plan… to take over Palau and the rest of the Pacific.” Responding to an article by the