Wednesday, April 15, 2009

[pima.nius] PMW: Hunter joins Samoa Observer

12:10 PM |


Title – 6120 SAMOA: Hunter joins Samoa Observer  

Date – 15 April 2009

Byline – None
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source –
Samoa Observer, 14/04/09
Copyright – SO
Status – Unabridged

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RUSSELL HUNTER JOINS SAMOA OBSERVER
www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6809:russell-hunter-joins&catid=50:headline&Itemid=62

APIA (Samoa Observer Online/Pacific Media Watch): The former publisher and chief executive officer of the Fiji Sun, Russell Hunter, is to join the Samoa Observer as development editor.

Hunter was the first of three Australian publishers to be deported by the illegal Bainimarama government in February last year when immigration officers and soldiers took him from his home, held him overnight and marched him on to the Sydney flight the next morning.

The deportation was believed to be in retaliation for a series of investigative articles exposing the overseas holdings of the then Minister for Finance and former prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, [who  later resigned on another issue].

The factual content of the series was never challenged.

Hunter and UK-based reporter, Victor Lal, jointly received Fiji’s top journalism honour, the Robert Keith-Reid award,for the series.

It was awarded in absentia as both remain on the Fiji immigration blacklist.

“I continued as publisher of the Fiji Sun after my deportation, making use of the technology available which allowed me to be ‘virtually’ in the office,” said Hunter, who arrived in Samoa yesterday.

“However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to run the business by remote control and when Jean and Sano Malifa asked me to join the Observer, I jumped at the chance.

“Samoa is increasingly regarded in the region as having a progressive government in terms of its relations with the media. In fact, Fiji could learn a lot from Samoa in this and other regards.”

Hunter said his immediate focus would be to continue and develop the outstanding work done by the Observer team.

“I have previously delivered training programmes in Samoa and elsewhere in the Pacific on behalf of a range of aid donors,” he said.

“Now I have a chance to build on that with a more focused and continuing programme. I’m very grateful to be given that opportunity and look forward to joining the great Observer team.”  

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