We have paid a very high price for being unable to protect freedom – Prof. Prasad

As an economy, we have paid a very high price for being unable to protect freedom but people can speak and criticize the government freely now.

This has been highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad while launching the book titled “Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific” which he also co-edited.

He says he, in a deeply personal way, knows how the economy has been affected when he sees the debt numbers and what the Government and he, as the Finance Minister has inherited.

Professor Prasad says the Government has reintroduced media self-regulation and we can actually feel the freedom everywhere, including in Parliament.

USP Head of Journalism Dr Shailendra Singh and former USP lecturer and co-founder of The Australia Today Dr Amrit Sarwal also co-edited the book with Professor Prasad.

While also speaking during the launch, PNG Minister for Information and Communications Technology Timothy Masiu says they support and are happy with the Government of Fiji for repealing the media laws that went against media freedom in Fiji in the recent past.

He further says his Department of ICT has built a Social Media Management Desk to monitor the ever-increasing menaces on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and other online platforms.

While speaking on the Draft National Media Development Policy of PNG, Masiu says the draft Policy aims to promote media self-regulation; improve government media capacity; roll out media infrastructure for all; and diversify content and quota usage for national interest.

He says to elevate media professionalism in PNG, the Policy calls for developing media self-regulation in the country without direct government intervention.

Masiu says the Draft Policy also intend to strike a balance between the media’s ongoing role in transparency and accountability on the one hand, and the dissemination of developmental information, on the other hand.

He says it is not in any way an attempt by the government to restrict the media in PNG and the media in PNG presently enjoys unprecedented freedom and ability to report as they deem appropriate.

The PNG Minister says their leaders are constantly being put in the spotlight, and while they do not necessarily agree with many of their daily reports, they will not suddenly move to restrict the media in PNG in any form.

Meanwhile, the 30th volume of the Pacific Journalism Review, co-edited by USP Journalism Programme founder Professor David Robie was also launched last night.

The Pacific Journalism Review has published over 1,500 articles over the last 30 years.