PIM bags media award

From The Editor’S Desk

This month PIM has cause to celebrate. Our senior writer Martin Tiffany has won the Pacific Media Award for Best Print Journalist. His story, fea tured as the cover story in PIM in August, 1992, on war-torn Bougainville and the Pacific island countries’ refusal to dis cuss it at the last South Pacific

Forum meeting in Honiara,

earned him the award.

Paul Smith, a freelance columnist and lecturer in journalism in Auck land, who judged the print journalism entries described Tiffany’s portfolio as compelling and marked by an inde pendent spirit of enquiry for people without a voice and for issues which needed one.

“Martin Tiffany’s provocative but balanced coverage of the Bougainville issue pushed the subject into the public arena, just as leaders meeting at the Pacific Forum were trying their level best to ignore it,” Smith said.

Commenting on his win, Tiffany said he hoped the award would highlight the Bougainville issue and once again draw attention to the on-going crisis outside Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He hoped this would in some way assist towards reaching a solution.

Three other Pacific writers were selec-

ted as finalists Pesi Fonua, editor of Matangi Tonga , Harlyne Joku of the Times of Papua New Guinea and Dominique Monti of La tribune Polynesienne.

Atunaisa Rasea received the award in the news photography category for his picture of the funeral of a Fijian policeman killed in northern Iraq during peacekeeping duties which was published in The Fiji Times.

Photgraphers Asaeli Lave and William Copeland, whose pictures also appeared in The Fiji Times , also received mention.

In announcing the inaugural awards, the organisers New Zealand’s Tasman

Pulp and Paper Co Ltd, Pacific Forum Line and the Pacific Journalists Associ ation - commended the high standard of entries received.

The awards are a recognition of excellence in journalism in the region and would assist in maintaining and developing the standards. The organisers feel the awards would encourage the improvement of the profession and would provide incentive for those working in the profession, often under difficult pressures.

Journalism in the Pacific is coming of age as more and more independent publications and broadcast stations are emerging. There is a distinctive shift away from government-run or controlled media with management of the media resting increasingly with Pacific island ers, as opposed to expatriates.

As a result greater responsibility, in terms of professional standards, is now being placed in the hands of people from the region.

At the same time, the flavour of the broadcast programs and news stories are becoming more Pacific oriented, touch ing the heart of issues of importance to the region.

As such the awards are very timely.

Not only do they recognise the existence and importance of this new Pacific media, but they provide a goal for Pacific

journalists to aspire towards.

Tiffany: best print journalist