Pacnews
Encyclopedia
Pacnews is a regional news agency
and international wire service
headquartered in Suva
, Fiji
. Pacnews is operated as a service of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA), a regional organization composed of journalist
s and news organizations in the Pacific Islands
region. Pacnews is sometimes written as PACNEWS.
Pacnews announced that it would no longer cover domestic Fijian news in its stories following a crackdown on the media in Fiji in the aftermath of the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis
. The announcement followed government demands that Pacnews remove a story about the UN Security Council's condemnation of the abolishment of the Fijian constitution by President Josefa Iloilo
on April 10, 2009. Fijian government censors also demanded that Pacnews screen all Pacnews bulletin
s and news feeds concerning Fiji through the government before being sent to subscribers abroad. Pacnews refused to comply with the Fijian government's censorship
demands and instead decided to discontinue all news stories on Fiji.
On April 15, 2009, Pacnews writer and journalist Pita Ligaiula, who is also a foreign correspondent for the Australian Associated Press
, was arrested by two police officers and an official from the Fijian Ministry of Information. Ligaiula' detention was reportedly due to a byline
he had written which violated Fiji's emergency restrictions on the media.
The restrictions on Pacnews have led to calls to leave Fiji due to censorship. Howewer, the President of PINA, Joseph Ealedona of Papua New Guinea
, reiterated that Pacnews has no plans to relocate to another country at this time. Ealedona said that it was important that Pacnews and PINA remain in Fiji, even under the current government restrictions saying, "I think it is very important that PINA remains there and does not show to the interim regime that we are running away. The media in Fiji needs PINA there. As far as the situation continues like that we will remain there."
However, Ealedonia left open the possibility that PINA would consider moving its Pacnews service and its headquarters out of Fiji at its conference in July 2009.
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
and international wire service
Wire Service
Wire Service is an American drama series that aired on ABC as part of its 1956-57 season lineup.-Synopsis:Wire Service focuses on three reporters for the fictional Trans-Globe wire service, which was similar to real-life news wire services such as the Associated Press and United Press International...
headquartered in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. Pacnews is operated as a service of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA), a regional organization composed of journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s and news organizations in the Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
region. Pacnews is sometimes written as PACNEWS.
Pacnews announced that it would no longer cover domestic Fijian news in its stories following a crackdown on the media in Fiji in the aftermath of the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis
2009 Fijian constitutional crisis
The Fijian constitutional crisis of 2009 began on Friday, 10 April 2009. Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo announced on a nationwide radio broadcast that he had suspended the Constitution of Fiji, dismissed all judges and constitutional appointees and assumed all governance in the country after...
. The announcement followed government demands that Pacnews remove a story about the UN Security Council's condemnation of the abolishment of the Fijian constitution by President Josefa Iloilo
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
on April 10, 2009. Fijian government censors also demanded that Pacnews screen all Pacnews bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin can refer to:Periodicals * The Bulletin, a now defunct Australian magazine* The Bulletin , an alternative weekly published in Montgomery County, Texas, United States...
s and news feeds concerning Fiji through the government before being sent to subscribers abroad. Pacnews refused to comply with the Fijian government's censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
demands and instead decided to discontinue all news stories on Fiji.
On April 15, 2009, Pacnews writer and journalist Pita Ligaiula, who is also a foreign correspondent for the Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
, was arrested by two police officers and an official from the Fijian Ministry of Information. Ligaiula' detention was reportedly due to a byline
Byline
The byline on a newspaper or magazine article gives the name, and often the position, of the writer of the article. Bylines are traditionally placed between the headline and the text of the article, although some magazines place bylines at the bottom of the page, to leave more room for graphical...
he had written which violated Fiji's emergency restrictions on the media.
The restrictions on Pacnews have led to calls to leave Fiji due to censorship. Howewer, the President of PINA, Joseph Ealedona of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, reiterated that Pacnews has no plans to relocate to another country at this time. Ealedona said that it was important that Pacnews and PINA remain in Fiji, even under the current government restrictions saying, "I think it is very important that PINA remains there and does not show to the interim regime that we are running away. The media in Fiji needs PINA there. As far as the situation continues like that we will remain there."
However, Ealedonia left open the possibility that PINA would consider moving its Pacnews service and its headquarters out of Fiji at its conference in July 2009.