back at one

I'm now back at home! I ran out of room on my passport for more stamps :( fark.. didnt even envision that so now I have to apply for a new one before i leave friday morning :(

nz mediaocre

I am now in NZ been here for a few days now, good to see different media. New mastheads, different dickheads on tv, different crap on the radio, overall whole new experience. I must admit I am a bit biased, I have a general preference for NZ media, somehow they do acknowledge that indeed their are people in the vast Pacific ocean, on the islands i mean :)

Todays NZ Herald frontpage was about the Kyoto Protocol and NZ commitment to ratification by 2012 instead of 2020, an awesome frontpager... quite considerate.. i dont think any aussie paper wouldve put the same story on the front page, but then again the priorities differ greatly between the two countries. I have to issue a lil' disclaimer here, obviously i would praise NZherald cause i do work for them :) but cumon man i have to pay a complement where its due.. chooo hoooo.

What i was impressed with however was NZ Heralds tight and controlled web presence, you cannot copy the NZH masthead from anywhere on the web... amazing stuff!

I must admit though that despite NZ media being a pretty solid pack it does play victim to the occassional sensational headliner and story angle... ah but what is mainstream without superficial prostitution of ideas.

The 'I' in journalism however is not so apparant here as in aussie, where every story is about the freaking writer and not the story itself.. i appreciate that!

[image: www.journalistopia.com]

canberra and the times

Ill have to make this quick because some asian woman is literally trying to push me off the farkin computer, like cant you see that im typing something really urgent and checking my bebo, hello :)
I am now in Canberra and in the final stages of the fellowship. Yesterday we visited the AUstralian Press Club, the High Court and a few museums, including the National Museum. Interesting places.
Today we paid the Canberra Times a visit, and that was somewhat cool, to say the least, as in to say a lil' as possible. The newsroom was small for a headquarter, but he printing press is one to die for. THe circulation of the paper is at a grand seventy thousand, the population of canberra being at 300,000 thats pretty cool. Well i better stop here and finish at another time :(

This is todays frontpage of Canberra times, this Cousins fella should have seen it coming! Such a fool!

globalisation, regionalism and localisation aka. big countries rule

This is a very broad look at globalisation, regionalism and localisation, it only scratches at the surface of these three concepts and movements.

Personally although I agree that globalisation can act as an inspiration for change, I feel that small nations such as Samoa stand to lose much economically, environmentally and socially if they are not fully aware of the implications of such agreements as WTO and the Pacific Plan.

Although noble in aim, I feel this is just one way for developed countries to take advantage of the little man, so to speak.

This is indeed a very interesting time to be a Journalist in the Pacific region, it is a defining moment in the history of the world, we are indeed living in a neoliberal era, yet in the Pacific we are also fighting remnants of the colonial era masked as ‘development’ delivered through sexy terminologies such as transparency, accountability and good governance.Is globalisation then just a form of neocolonialism?If you think about it globalization is in a sense colonialism with consent.

Regionalism itself although self motivated has become obligatory.

It makes me wonder, not just as a Journalist but as a citizen of the world, are we becoming closer through the implementation of globalisation or is it further pushing nations apart as the competition becomes fierce and ugly?

Who loses out in the end?

I do find it ironic that globalisation a development tool and one that encourages interdependence attacks the just value that has guaranteed progress, democracy.
Globalisation compromises democracy by distorting autonomy and the sovereignty of a nation as they are bulked into regionalism and later globalization.

Is this progress?Is it development if we achieve global success at the expense of our national identities?

I personally do not think so, as a proud Samoan I feel that our culture, our society and the way we do things separate us from the rest of the world.

Economic progress should never be declared at the regress of society or culture.But is this not the inevitable?

Is this a fate that we must accept in order to be part of the world?Perhaps, but as long as we are true to ourselves, maintain our values and tamper only with the periphery we can somehow find a balance, embrace regionalism and globalisation yet still be unique.

In the words of The Alchemist author Paolo Coelho: “It we fulfil our personal legends we are contributing to the soul of the world.” [extracted from a paper i wrote for the fellowship]

coffee cups and fear of numbers

I'm now sitting in my small dormitory room at Sunbury Halls, trying to recover from two weeks of full on studying, writing, talking, observing, sharing and trying to get sleep in between all of those. The room is a big mess, teacups everywhere, newspapers strewn on the floor, cameras with dying batteries abandoned in a moment of rush, thoughts scattered and ideas in a mess but unseen in the room.

Ive got a massive headache but theres nothing i can do about it, i can't sleep because theres too much noise, i cant really eat cause theres nothing to eat and i certainly do not want to go for a walk cause its too blumin cold outside :(

I learnt this week that i will be working at the Australian Financial Review for a few days as part of the journalism fellowship, i'm looking forward to it, not everyday cherelle permits herself to see numbers in sequence, i think im finally lifting up that curtain that long time ago i pulled down on maths.. although technically this is not maths, its economics and i can do economics any day :) anyhow so this should be good. well best get off this thing and check my bebo account :) yes the busy life of a journalist :)

foot in my mouth disease

Sometimes I swear I am plagued with the foot in mouth disease :) in that I constantly put my foot in my mouth without intending to do so, metaphorically speaking of course! Last night one of my foot in mouth situations was at the table with all the fellows, coordinators and trainers I said to the chairman of apjc: "Your wife is very tall." He said: "Yes she is." everyone nodded their heads in agreement with my sentiment then ms jackson went on to say: "So how was it in the begining?" It was one of those moments, blonde moments when my need to know how he felt being a short man being seen with a much taller woman really came out as me wondering about the poor mans sex life... hehe... chooo hooo.

Lastnight I had what has been described by my boss as a 'literary diahhorea' whereby i sat down to write on a topic and everything just poured onto the pages and the next thing you know i had written twenty pages worth of critique on globalisation, it was awesome! The night before I also went on an analytical rampage and came up with abou fifteen pages worth of graphs and content analysis of the three main newspapers in melbourne, its kinda nice to finally write without the rules that surround journalism, its like my mind just let go and let flow:)

Samoa Industry:

Market Population:

179,186 people (Industrial area 70,000 pple)

Employment:

20, 396 end of first quarter 2007 (MOF)

Employment:

(Public) 52,000 (Stats Dept)

National Budget:

Revenues: 554 million

Expenditure: 584million

Deficit: 30million

Surplus after borrowing: 945million

MAIN INDUSTRIES:

Tourism: 226million

Transport and Communications: 131 million

Agriculture: 68million

Manufacturing: 89million

Construction: 87million

OUTLOOK:

MOF: 3.8 % growth

CBS: Economy forecasted to grow 3% in real terms

ADB: expects 3.4% growth

World Bank: Average Real GDP growth for Pacific is 3.8%

SOURCES:

Budget Address (PM Office)

Statistics Department (Samoa)

Ministry of Finance (Samoa)

Central Bank of Samoa

Asia Development Bank

World Bank

an analysis

So I did a content analysis in regards to news coverage categories preferred by the three main newspapers in Melbourne, The Age, The Australian and The Herald Sun. Interesting finds, it seems The Australian takes more care in covering a broad range of issues whereas The Age although in deapth in other categories tend to steer more towards social stories, whereas the Herald Sun as expected posed more human interest stories than the other two.

Samoa's freedom of press under threat

Anyone who prides in suppressing an otherwise free press is no better then this dead fella. I took this pic in my office two months ago, before it was viciously burnt down!

---------------------------------------------

Story:

June- Freedom of the press and the integrity of journalists are under attack this week in Samoa.
Owner of the largest radio station in Samoa, Radio Polynesia, Maposua Rudolph Keil has made a dramatic stance against freedom of some working Journalists in Samoa.
Maposua issued a letter to Radio Polynesia news team prohibiting them from attending Press Conferences by Saleimoa Vaai Asiata the most recent leader of the Samoa Democratic United Party and current Member of Parliament.
In his letter to his news team Maposua said: "You will not ever attend another Press Conference held by Honourable Asiata Saleimoa Vaai at his office at Fugalei. Should he wish to announce his news item over the air using our facilities he will have to pay for it, otherwise I will not allow it to be broadcasted due to harmful and unproven topics he uses in his Press Conference."
Maposua, a vocal Media owner went on to say: "Further I have indicated at our numerous discussions that you should report and praise the Government on the many good project."
News Editor of Radio Polynesia News Ms. Ame Sene has yet to make a statement in regards to the matter.
The Journalists Association of [Western] Samoa has expressed their dismay at the order by Maposua on his Journalists.




-NZ Herald Online

Information officers and the gag order

Information or Public Relations officers in every other proud democratic state are major components of any public, private or even grass root level organizations.
They are the front of established organizations, ministries and companies whether they be national, regional or international.
Usually armed with Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism or even Human Resource qualifications and experience these people can make or break the public image and reputation of an organization.
They are the shields in times of troubles and the gel in times of friction and hardships for organizations.
Public Relations officers exist to maintain a positive image of their workplace, they are experts on issues relating to them and they are well informed on happenings in their organizations.
One of their major roles is to deal with the media, and a good public relations officer is a friend of the media.
This is one of their more important roles, as through the media they can address the concerns of the public.
Having said that, PR Officers play an integral part in any established body, especially one for the people dealing with members of the public daily.
The concept of Information and PR Officers has yet to make an impact on our shores.
Apart from Ministers, CEO's continue to be the only voice allowed to speak for Government Bodies while General Managers are the point of contact for some Private Sector companies.
Although the heads of these public and private bodies are the best points of reference they are usually either unavailable or take issues too personal therefore some concerns are not addressed.
As a Journalist I appreciate PR Officers, obviously they make my job easier, but most importantly they save time and they would give me an answer within one day.
In some Ministries a gag order is placed on all its workers to prevent them from speaking to the media.
This is a very unfortunate development as without information there is no awareness of success or failures therefore the changes that should be made will rarely occur.
Although I partly understand the reason for this gag order it is unfortunate that some great minds and inspirational characters working in Government are not allowed to speak on their respective fields of expertise.
It is also unfortunate as a Journalist passionate about Environmental and Health issues not to be able to interview third level Government workers for their opinion and their take on issues.
The gag order takes away from the freedom of our supposed democratic society.
When Government workers are afraid to speak for fear of repercussions on their careers it is very unfortunate, the gag order prohibits freedom of expression one of the founding pillars of democracy.
This habit of suppression although deeply routed in our culture should be diminished to allow for development.
Freedom to information, freedom of expression and freedom of the media are the core of any free and democratic state, like Samoa, unfortunately this is not exercised here.

-Newsline

tired of the asia-pacific term

I will no longer stand for this Asia-Pacific crap, don't these foreigners know that the Pacific is a separate entity in itself, ok so you can barely make out our islands on the map but for Gods sake dont bulk us in like a freaking piece tuna steak, we are different, theres Asia and then theres the Pacific, one and the other. If I have to hear one more reference to AsiaPacific as where I am from I swear I will throw a bitch fit :) joking.
When people, governments or organisations use this term they really mean Asia, not the Pacific. It is a constant uphill struggle to prove that we are indeed separate... ok ill stop ranting :)

light in your eyes

If my computer speakers switch off one more time I swear I will throw this whole freaking thing out the window of three story high Sunbury Halls, the impact of the fragile laptop will be enough to shatter the screened window and if somehowe impossibly makes it beyond the glass, the laptop along with five years worth of my own journalistic expressions will find a rushed demise shattered on the cold hard pavement of this isolated University Campus.
Well, I am in Sunbury Halls a Victoria University Campus, about 50 minutes from the center of Melbourne. The Campus is beautiful, the buildings, more to the English style rather then the non-existing Australian frames reminds me dearly of Austria and its sprawling castles and architectural creativity in the age of bricks and subtle curves.
I titled this blog as such as it is the song I am listening to by Blessid Union of Souls, called: "Light in your Eyes." The rhythm is inspirational but the words are depressing, thus making for one awesome love song, except i'm not feeling any of the emotions that typically go with such audio delights.
I just had three cups of english breakfast tea and I am content, I am content with me, my place in the world, right now, right this minute, I am content! Its beautiful. Of course theres the usual shit that comes with contentment, like forgetting momentarily that my office building burnt down, that our temporary location is now officially closed as well, that the future of Newsline is so fucking uncertain its almost depressing, I am forgetting momentarily that I left my car to a friend who is leaving and who may or may not have taken care of it well enough, I am forgetting momentarily that I ate way too much today :) hehe.. i could be thoroughly contradictory at times.
So what is good then?
Well whats good is that I am happy in the skin I am in, that I am still happy as a Journalist, that todays talk by Monash University Professor Mark Barton was awesome and it really opened up my eyes, and that every time he said democracy or pointed to the intricacies of the every fragile journey towards international cooperation I smiled in my head, coming up with new thoughts and ideas that lay dormant in my poor suppressed mind at times.

So here goes:

On Democracy:
Development is an accessory to democracy.

Developmental Journalism is a ntural progresion of the fourth estate.

Developmental Journalism complements liberal democracy.

A free press is a fuel for democracy.

Democracy cannot exist without a free press, unless otherwise stated :)

On Regionalism:
Regionalism is really neo-colonialism presented as assertive joint democracy.

Regionalism is a smaller version of globalisation masked in patriotic values really intended for the developmental aspirations of New Zealand and Australia :)

The Pacific Plan is the Conquerers Plan.

The Pacific Plan is the begining of the democratic meltdown.

Regionalism distors island democracy.

Regionalism fuels neo-colonialism mentalities.


On Other:
Autonomy is the core of hopeful democracy.

Democracy starts with me :)

Selfishness, the comfort of the heartless.

Free speech is liberation at its best.