The Information and Communication Department of the Papua New Guinea government plans to review a policy known as the National Information and Communication Policy (NPIC) which dates back to 1994, to come up with guidelines for the media.
The department’s acting secretary Henao Iduhu announced recently that the NPIC review “is important so that the rules of engagement for the media industry and publishing houses are clear. We must ensure that the media industry abide by professional ethics. We must ensure that they play the game within guidelines set out by the Government and not allow them to move the goal post. Everybody plays to our rules, to ensure that everybody is a winner.”
Asked to clarify his comments and whether it meant the Government was moving to restrict free speech and freedom of the press by introducing guidelines, Iduhu said this was not what was intended. “Freedom of media will not be curtailed at all. All I’m saying is it is a two-way thing,” he said, adding the PNG Media Council would be invited to contribute to the review. He said if the media plays its part and reports fairly, accurately and responsibly, there would be no cause for alarm.
Iduhu said the review would start towards the end of the year or early next year when funds were made available in the budget. Meanwhile, the department was also seeking PGK1.5 million [US$532,000] from the Treasury Department to begin the feasibility study for the introduction of a television station run by the Government. The National Television Station for PNG would come under the National Broadcasting Corporation umbrella.
Iduhu said a consultant is being sought to undertake the study and to advise the Government on the TV proposal.
(Source: The National/R Netherlands Media Network Network)