Ross Stevens and Uni Ross Stevens and Uni Tavur: Tavur: A Kiwi legacy among wantoksA Kiwi legacy among wantoks

Auckland University of Technology © David RobieJEANZ Conference, New Plymouth

December, 2003

The South PacificThe South Pacific

IntroductionIntroductionPapua New Guinea independence in

1975 Australia provides few skilled and

professional nationals to take overShortage of journalists - no training1974 pilot scheme - 12 PNG journalists

to Wellington Polytechnic: ‘failure’New Zealand J-school aid for UPNG

IntroductionIntroductionRoss Stevens founding lecturer,

1975-1981Luke Sela (Post-Courier editor)Most PNG journalists expatriatesTraining haphazardOffice of InformationNational Broadcasting CommissionNZ funds one-year Journalism Diploma

The contextThe contextPNG territory: 462,000

sq kmPNG pop: 5m -

more than combined populations of other Pacific Islands Forum countries

Asian connection - shared border with ‘Indonesia’ (Papua)

Politics and media heavily influenced by Australia

The contextThe context Two national dailies -

Post-Courier (Murdoch), The National (Rimbunan Hijau)

One national weekly - Wantok Four provincial newspapers One national TV station - EM TV National public radio - NBC Two FM private radio networks - one owned

by Fiji (PNG FM - CFL)

The contextThe context1975 Constitution sets

out rights of citizens and non-citizensSection 46 (1): ‘Every person has the

right of freedom of expression and publication except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by law.’

The contextThe contextSection 46 (2):‘Freedom to hold opinions, to receive

and communicate ideas and information. Whether to the public generally or to a person or class of persons; and

‘Freedom of the Press and other mass communications media.’

The contextThe contextThis section has not

so far been arbitrarily breached by any PNG Government

But there have been many threats - Media Tribunal Bill 1987

Similar draft legislation currently introduced by Fiji - Media Council of Fiji Bill 2003

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurJournalism school at UPNG

‘independence gift’ from NZOnly institution able to provide

supportRoss Stevens founding lecturer,

1975-1981Assisted by other lecturers -

NZ historian Michael King

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurJoe Sukwianomb, student leader

and later VC:University on Air, Uni Tavur‘Ross Stevens moved things, he organised

programmes and set things up … Ross is remembered now by many journalists working in media, including John Somare, Joshua Kalinoe (now politicians).’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurSorariba Nash, founding

J-student now lecturer:‘I am very proud of the school. In 1975, it

was established by the NZ Government as the pioneering journalism school in the Pacific … I see it as an independence gift. It has survived all these years and produced so many journalists.’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurStevens and King forced to

deal with expat racismMichael King:‘The whole idea of putting journalism

into the context of university education still ran counter to the perceptions of the NZ [media] industry … that you best learn about the job on the job.’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurSorariba on Stevens:‘I think it was his character, the

leadership that he demonstrated [over] what a journalist should do…

‘We came from a cultural background where we are shy, we don’t shout at people, we don’t talk a lot …

‘He gave us the example - and courage.’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurKing on Stevens:‘Ross had considerable charisma,

as well as having considerable integrity.‘He made a huge impact on

everybody - the students … [and] officialdom …

‘He had absolutely the right qualities for doing that job.’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni TavurUni - university; Tavur -

conch shell (Tolai)Newspaper launched 24 July

1975Political, independence struggles -

‘snapshot of history’Sukwianomb:‘Uni Tavur came to play a significant role in

changing ideas … a time of strikes.’

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni Tavur

Stevens and Uni TavurStevens and Uni Tavur1978 - reports about PNG support

for Kanak independence1981 - reports feature SRC

leader Gabriel Ramoi (who later seeks media gag)

Reporting of squandered aid funds‘Nationalisation’ issues1992, ‘yellow journalism’ period

Uni Tavur post-StevensUni Tavur post-Stevens1984-9 - Peter Henshall and David

Ingram restructured UPNG journalismDiploma - two yearsFour-year Bachelor of Journalism

introduced‘Head hunting’ young reportersIlliteracy problem - education role‘PiNGlish’ - Tok Pisin and English

Uni Tavur post-StevensUni Tavur post-Stevens1995 - David Robie relaunches

Uni Tavur as fortnightly tabloid

1996 - Uni Tavur OnlineWins JEA student newspaper

of year1997 - Change of VC: Rodney HillsJournalism, Creative Arts to be closed2000 - reprieve after Hills leaves PNG

ConclusionConclusion UPNG plays crucial role in

developing Pacific journalism education

Ross Stevens sets up pilot training course as regional benchmark

Success in cycles due to fluctuating campus, political policies

But by end of 1997, Journalism Studies produces 174 graduates