Media Council of Papua New Guinea

Last updated

The Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) was established in 1985 and is a body responsible for the development of media and the regulator of media services in Papua New Guinea (PNG). [1]

Contents

The MCPNG’s purpose is to provide innovative solutions to strengthening the media in PNG. It is also responsible for enhancing the capacity of the media, and acting as a “watch-dog, agenda-setter and gate-keeper”. The MCPNG hopes to create a “free, pluralistic and vibrant media” that contributes to the democratic governance debate in the country. [1]

Programmes

The MCPNG advances its goals through two programmes – the Media for Development Initiative (MDI) and the Development Communication Initiative (DCI). The MDI is focused on the advancement of media in PNG and the DCI is responsible for engaging civil society in the communication of development information across the country. [2]

AusAID reports that the MDI contributed “to improved stability, governance and service provision by supporting an open and democratic media that delivers quality information services to all areas of PNG.” Working with the National Broadcasting Corporation and the Media Council, the MDI strengthens the capacity and the operations of the media in PNG, particularly in the rural areas. [3]

This approach is based on the principle that an accessible and effective media can:

The MDI is run by Justin Kili, a veteran journalist who has spent time working for the British Broadcasting Corporation. He is known as “the voice of PNG”. [4]

Initiatives

In a presentation to the OECD, the Media Council listed several initiatives that it has led in line with its goals. They are:

Supporters

The MCPNG lists its main supporters as AusAID and the embassy of the People’s Republic of China. [6]

AusAID contributes up to A$500 million to the programme per year. [7] Between 2003 and 2008, AusAID contributed A$13.9 million specifically to the MDI. [3]

Misallocation of funds

In June 2011, AusAID suspended its donations to the MCPNG after a routine audit found anecdotal evidence of fraud. The audit found that funds “had not been managed in accordance with procurement guidelines” and that several thousand dollars were missing. [7]

An executive director of MCPNG, Nimo Kama, was suspended following the revelation. [8] Kama was formerly the MCPNG’s chief executive before being appointed as vice president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), a body providing representation to media professionals across 23 Pacific Islands. [9] Kama replaced the former vice president, John Woods, who resigned over disagreements with the PINA board’s stance on the constitutional crisis in Fiji. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua New Guinea</span> Country in Oceania

Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby. The country is the world's third largest island country, with an area of 462,840 km2 (178,700 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Papua New Guinea</span> National economy

The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is largely underdeveloped with the vast majority of the population living below the poverty line. However, according to the Asian Development Bank its GDP is expected to grow 3.4% in 2022 and 4.6% in 2023. It is dominated by the agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector and the minerals and energy extraction sector. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector accounts for most of the labour force of PNG while the minerals and energy extraction sector, including gold, copper, oil and natural gas is responsible for most of the export earnings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Aid</span> International aid agency of the Australian Government

Australian Aid is the brand name used to identify projects in developing countries supported by the Australian Government. As of 2014 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been responsible for Australia's official development assistance to developing countries.

With 1.28 percent of the adult population estimated by UNAIDS to be HIV-positive in 2006, Papua New Guinea has one of the most serious HIV/AIDS epidemics in the Asia-Pacific subregion. Although this new prevalence rate is significantly lower than the 2005 UNAIDS estimate of 1.8 percent, it is considered to reflect improvements in surveillance rather than a shrinking epidemic. Papua New Guinea accounts for 70 percent of the subregion's HIV cases and is the fourth country after Thailand, Cambodia, and Burma to be classified as having a generalized HIV epidemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary</span> National police force of Papua New Guinea.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) is a national police force with jurisdiction throughout all of Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Papua New Guinea relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1976, soon after Papua New Guinea became independent. The two countries currently maintain diplomatic, economic and, to a lesser degree, military relations. Relations are cordial; China is a significant provider of both investments and development aid to Papua New Guinea.

Sir Salamo Injia is a retired Judge and former Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea. Injia was knighted in 2006 and appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea in 2008, succeeding Mari Kapi. In 2018, Sir Gibbs Salika replaced him as the Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea. In August 2019, Injia was appointed chair of a commission of inquiry into a controversial state loan of US$1,200,000,000 from the Swiss bank UBS used by the PNG government to buy a stake in the resource company Oil Search.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deforestation in Papua New Guinea</span>

Deforestation in Papua New Guinea has been extensive and in recent decades from 2001 to 2020, Papua New Guinea lost 1.57Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a 3.7% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 1.15Gt of CO₂e emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter O'Neill</span> Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019

Peter Charles Paire O'Neill is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. He has been a Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pangia since 2002. He is a former cabinet minister and the former leader of the People's National Congress between 2006 and 2022. He resigned his position as prime minister to avoid a vote of no confidence and he was succeeded by James Marape. O'Neill won re-election to the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea in 2022 in the first round with a large majority, which is unusual in the country.

The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) was established in 1993 under the Forestry Act, 1991. It replaced the former Department of Forest and unified all the Provincial Forest Divisions and the Forest Industries Council. This restructuring was the result of the 1989 Barnett Commission of Inquiry into forestry in Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Papua New Guinea</span>

Corruption is rife in Papua New Guinea (PNG). According to The Economist, "PNG's governments are notorious for corruption, and ever run the risk of turning the state into a fully-fledged kleptocracy".

Investigation Task Force Sweep was established in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on 12 August 2011, following a resolution by the National Executive Council (NEC). The initiative was spearheaded by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill as part of his well-publicised anti-corruption drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Papua New Guinea</span>

Life expectancy in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at birth was 64 years for men in 2016 and 68 for women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Development Policy Centre</span>

The Development Policy Centre (Devpol) is an aid and development policy think tank based at the Crawford School of Public Policy in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Devpol undertakes independent research and promotes practical initiatives to improve the effectiveness of Australian aid, to support the development of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands region, and to contribute to better global development policy.

The Papua New Guinea Greens Party or PNG Greens are a minor political party in Papua New Guinea. Founded in 2001, the party took part in the 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 general elections, without winning a seat. They are a member of the Global Greens and of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation.

The Papua New Guinea Constitutional Democratic Party (PNGCDP) is a former political party in Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Jared Kramer</span> Papua New Guinean politician

Bryan Jared Kramer was a Papua New Guinea politician and Member of the 10th and 11th Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Formerly a member of the Pangu Party, he founded the Allegiance Party, of which he was the sole MP, in 2018. He ran nine candidates in the 2022 National Elections, including one in each of Madang's seven electorates. Kramer was returned with a sizeable majority, but was unsuccessful in securing the election of another Party member. He was suspended from office on 30 September 2022 pending the outcomes of a leadership tribunal. On Tuesday 28 February 2023 the three-man bench unanimously found Kramer guilty of seven counts against him. A three-man bench recommended dismissal for two counts of "scandalising the judiciary" and fines totalling K10,000 (USD3,000) for five counts related to use of district funds. Kramer was dismissed from office by the Governor General on 24 May 2023. He will not be able to re-contest an election for three years, allowing him to compete in the 2027 election. A by-election for Madang Open will be held in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force</span>

The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is the highest-ranking military officer of in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military. The current commander is Brigadier general Gilbert Toropo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Papua New Guinea</span>

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is officially known as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea after gaining absolute independence from Australia on September 16, 1975. PNG is the largest country in the South Pacific region and comprises the eastern side of New Guinea including its islands. Crime in Papua New Guinea, both violent and non-violent have contributed to the developing country's crime rate being one of the highest in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Siaguru</span> Papua New Guinea public servant and anti-corruption campaigner

Sir Anthony Siaguru was a Papua New Guinean civil servant, lawyer, international diplomat, politician, sportsman and anti-corruption campaigner.

References

  1. 1 2 Media Council of Papua New Guinea. "Ab out Us". Media Council of Papua New Guinea. Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
  2. ↑ Media Council of Papua New Guinea. "Programs". Media Council of Papua New Guinea. Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Democratic Governance". AusAID. Archived from the original on 2010-05-11.
  4. ↑ Corinne Knutson. ""Voice of Papua New Guinea" Now Speaks for the Ocean". SeaWeb. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  5. ↑ John Aitsi. "Media Council of PNG".[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ Post Courier (10 January 2011). "Advocacy for action". Post Courier. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012.
  7. 1 2 Liam Fox (3 June 2011). "PNG media council embroiled in fraud audit". ABC News.
  8. ↑ Online Editor (3 June 2011). "PNG Media Council executive suspended". PINA.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ PINA (9 June 2023). "What is PINA". PINA.
  10. ↑ Stanley Simpson (19 July 2010). "PNG Media Council CEO Nimo Kama appointed as PINA VP". Pacific Scoop.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.