The PNG Media and Creative Arts Industry Association (MACAIA) is concerned that more passionate, experienced and highly skilled journalists are being put out of their jobs.
In recognition of World Media Freedom Day Interim President, Tania Bale-Nugent in a statement stressed that the freedom of the media has been compromised and is slowly being ‘chipped away’.
“A free, fair, independent and unbiased media is essential to democracy as well as a free and fair national general elections.
“We have seen in recent years how the freedom of the media in PNG has been compromised and is slowly being chipped away.
“This is a great danger for the security of PNG as a democracy. It is concerning to see more passionate, experienced and highly skilled journalists being pushed out of their jobs.
“Sometimes we may not like messages that come out in the news but that does not mean we shoot the messenger,” Ms. Bale said.
The interim media union MACAIA was formed in February this year by more than 20 PNG journalists who were concerned about the massive sacking of journalists and cameramen who walked off their jobs in support of their editor who was sidelined from her job for allowing certain reports to be aired on a particular television broadcasting station. The management of the PNG TV station sacked the entire newsroom staff {24) following their protest over the sidelining of their editor on February 17, 2022.
PNGMACAIA was formed on the 27th of February, 2022 at the PNG Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC) venue following the termination issue.
The group elected their interim executive as follows;
Tania Bale (N as Interim President, Harlyne Joku as Interim General Secretary and Jack Lapauve Jnr as Interim Treasurer.
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