IFJ Calls for Respect for Media as Reporters Attacked in Samoa

March 30 2009 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls for an immediate renewal of public respect for journalists and press freedom in the Pacific island state of Samoa after a spate of attacks on court reporters.

According to the Journalists’ Association of Western Samoa (JAWS), a camera operator and a news reporter were attacked while reporting on a high-profile trial of a church leader at Samoa’s Supreme Court in the capital, Apia, on March 24.

The media workers were reportedly chased away from the court entrance by members of the public attending the trial.

Two newspaper reporters were physically threatened at the court the following day, JAWS reported.

“JAWS calls upon the public to be mindful that a journalist reports not for his or her own sake but for the sake of our readers, listeners and audiences,” JAWS Secretary Cherelle Jackson said in a statement.

“By hindering the work of journalists, members of the public are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.”

The IFJ joins JAWS in calling for authorities in Samoa to provide additional protection to any media worker reporting on the remaining proceedings of the trial and on any matter of public interest.

“Court reporting is a necessary part of ensuring transparency in governance and justice in a democratic state,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“It is the responsibility of the Samoan authorities to send a clear message to any person who attacks members of the media that their actions undermine this process and will not be tolerated.”

IFJ Calls for Respect for Media as Reporters Attacked in Samoa

March 30 2009 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls for an immediate renewal of public respect for journalists and press freedom in the Pacific island state of Samoa after a spate of attacks on court reporters.

According to the Journalists’ Association of Western Samoa (JAWS), a camera operator and a news reporter were attacked while reporting on a high-profile trial of a church leader at Samoa’s Supreme Court in the capital, Apia, on March 24.

The media workers were reportedly chased away from the court entrance by members of the public attending the trial.

Two newspaper reporters were physically threatened at the court the following day, JAWS reported.

“JAWS calls upon the public to be mindful that a journalist reports not for his or her own sake but for the sake of our readers, listeners and audiences,” JAWS Secretary Cherelle Jackson said in a statement.

“By hindering the work of journalists, members of the public are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.”

The IFJ joins JAWS in calling for authorities in Samoa to provide additional protection to any media worker reporting on the remaining proceedings of the trial and on any matter of public interest.

“Court reporting is a necessary part of ensuring transparency in governance and justice in a democratic state,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“It is the responsibility of the Samoan authorities to send a clear message to any person who attacks members of the media that their actions undermine this process and will not be tolerated.”

JAWS Statement on Harassment of Journalists at Courts

APIA (27 March 2009) - The Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa , (JAWS) in response to complaints by members wish to reiterate that we will not tolerate the harassment of local Journalists in the pursuit of truth. Journalists play an important role in any society, the media is the fourth estate of democracy and it is essentially the eyes and ears of society. We, the Journalists are informants of the public and therefore have a duty to our readers, listeners and audiences to seek to the best of our ability, both sides of every story.
Recently we have received reports that members of the public have attacked and threatened Journalists and Camera Crew outside the Court house while covering court proceedings. The harassment of Journalists is a direct threat on media freedom itself. By hindering the work of Journalists members of the public are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.
We call upon our law enforcers to assist in the protection of local Journalists in their duty at the courts. JAWS calls upon the public to be mindful that a Journalist reports not for his or her own sake but for the sake of our readers, listeners and audiences.
JAWS calls upon the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to support the organisation in this statement for the sake of media freedom in Samoa.
JAWS , reiterates that media freedom is integral to democracy.

Samoan medias annual get together

APIA (feb) - Samoan Journalists, Editors, Camera Crew, Advertising Reps and PR officers came together on Friday night to celebrate the beginning of a new working year for the media reps.
Hosted by JAWS, the Media Cocktail was held at the STA Fale after the organisations AGM.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to come together, relax, have fun, share a few jokes about the past year, and anticipate the beginning of another exciting media year for us,” said Ualetenese Papalii Taimalelagi, President of JAWS on Friday.
The Cocktail also featured a short video of photos from the past three years of JAWS activities.
The pictorial display saw the summing up of various workshops, seminars, conferences and other fun activities hosted and organised by JAWS.
“It is great to see that JAWS has been part of so many great activities, that obviously reflects the need of the industry,” says Misa Vicky Lepou , Journalism Lecturer at NUS.
The event ended in the early hours of Saturday morning as once again the President who is the Government Press Secretary, a Samoa Observer Photographer, a RNZI Correspondent and a TV Executive played the guitars and ukulele, singing local songs as the rest of the gathering cheered on.
Only in Samoa, does this happen.

Samoan medias annual get together

APIA (feb) - Samoan Journalists, Editors, Camera Crew, Advertising Reps and PR officers came together on Friday night to celebrate the beginning of a new working year for the media reps.
Hosted by JAWS, the Media Cocktail was held at the STA Fale after the organisations AGM.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to come together, relax, have fun, share a few jokes about the past year, and anticipate the beginning of another exciting media year for us,” said Ualetenese Papalii Taimalelagi, President of JAWS on Friday.
The Cocktail also featured a short video of photos from the past three years of JAWS activities.
The pictorial display saw the summing up of various workshops, seminars, conferences and other fun activities hosted and organised by JAWS.
“It is great to see that JAWS has been part of so many great activities, that obviously reflects the need of the industry,” says Misa Vicky Lepou , Journalism Lecturer at NUS.
The event ended in the early hours of Saturday morning as once again the President who is the Government Press Secretary, a Samoa Observer Photographer, a RNZI Correspondent and a TV Executive played the guitars and ukulele, singing local songs as the rest of the gathering cheered on.
Only in Samoa, does this happen.

JAWS to sponsor top student Journalism Award

APIA (February) - The Journalists Association of [Western] Samoa responded to a request by the Journalism School at the National University of Samoa to sponsor the top Journalism student award for the Faculty from this year onwards.
“Ours is the only school without a sponsor for the top prize,” Journalism Lecturer Misa Vicky Lepou told JAWS.
At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, the members agreed that the top Journalism prize was a worthy investment by JAWS.
“If we have to invest in one cause, this would be the one, as this is after all the future of Journalism in Samoa,” says Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Secretary of JAWS.
Since it was established in 2002 the Journalism school has been successfully staffing media organisations in Samoa.
However members of JAWS did express a disappointment in the quality of some students coming out of the course and expressed a concern at the lack of active participation by the Industry Advisory Panel in the course.
There was a unanimous decision by the members of JAWS to sponsor a specially marked trophy for the top student of the course for this year, and pending approval for every year from now on.

JAWS to sponsor top student Journalism Award

APIA (February) - The Journalists Association of [Western] Samoa responded to a request by the Journalism School at the National University of Samoa to sponsor the top Journalism student award for the Faculty from this year onwards.
“Ours is the only school without a sponsor for the top prize,” Journalism Lecturer Misa Vicky Lepou told JAWS.
At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, the members agreed that the top Journalism prize was a worthy investment by JAWS.
“If we have to invest in one cause, this would be the one, as this is after all the future of Journalism in Samoa,” says Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Secretary of JAWS.
Since it was established in 2002 the Journalism school has been successfully staffing media organisations in Samoa.
However members of JAWS did express a disappointment in the quality of some students coming out of the course and expressed a concern at the lack of active participation by the Industry Advisory Panel in the course.
There was a unanimous decision by the members of JAWS to sponsor a specially marked trophy for the top student of the course for this year, and pending approval for every year from now on.

JAWS Board re-elected for third consecutive year

APIA (January 09) - At the Annual General Meeting of the Journalists Association of [Western] Samoa (JAWS), the 2008 Board was re-elected and voted in for the third consecutive year.
“We see that the current Board has done a terrific job, so why change,” said former JAWS President and RNZI Correspondent Tipi Autagavaia.
The three year Board is made up of Papalii Ualetenese Taimalelagi as President, Lagi Keresoma as Vice President, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson as Secretary, Angela Kronfeld-Polu as Treasurer, Sioeli Alofaifo as Assistant Treasurer and Ame Sene as Assistant Secretary.
Despite advice by the Board to reconsider and revote all positions as dictated by the Constitution of JAWS, the members insisted on re-electing all Executive Members to all their current positions.
“This is not the first time it has happened, and I guess it is a good reflection of our work,” Papalii said.
In the past year JAWS has been involved in the organising of a regional Human Rights Media Conference, as well as in country training on environment reporting, and sponsoring a Public Relations workshop for PR Officers in Government and the Private Sector.
JAWS continues to work in the interest of freedom of the media.

List of Activities for 2009 AGM

List of Activities for Year 2008
February: JAWS/SPREP Seminar on Coral Reefs (PYOR)
March: JAWS issues statement on Russell Hunter deportation
April: Pacific Human Rights Media Conference in Samoa
April: JAWS Pacific Media Cocktail
April: JAWS Public Relations Training by Geoff Hodinott
May: JAWS Editors and Senior Journalists Forum
May: JAWS WPFD Fun Walk
September: JAWS Informal Meeting with IFJ in Australia
October: JAWS/SPREP Climate Change Seminar
October: Pacific Climate Change Roundtable Media Conference
November: JAWS / IFJ Statement on Police Inquiry limitations
December: JAWS/NUS/UQ Online Press Conference