Pacific journalists under growing pressure – watchdog
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 13 November 2019
“The Melanesia Media Freedom Forum says journalists are facing growing pressure across the Pacific.
“The group held its annual meeting in Brisbane this week, where it painted a grim picture of the industry.
“The Melanesia Media Freedom Forum says there's been a global decline of democracy, and increases in misinformation.
“In Melanesia, the group says social media is an existential threat to media companies, where women also face discrimination.
“The MMFF said threats to media freedoms were increasing, including "restrictive legislation, intimidation, political threats, legal threats and prosecutions, assaults and police and military brutality and illegal detention."
“Other threats include "online abuse, racism between ethnic groups and the ever-present threats facing particularly younger and female reporters who may face violence both on the job and within their own homes."
“Public figures, including politicians and officials, were also "becoming more resistant to responding to direct questions from media."
Copyright © 2019, Radio New Zealand
