12:20 PM |
Title – 6802 SAMOA: Comment - Dreaver, robbery and guns
Date – 15 April 2010
Byline – Mata'afa Keni Lesa
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Samoa Observer, 14/4/10
Copyright – SO
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
* Post a comment on this story at PMW Right of Reply:
www.pacificmediacentre.blogspot.com
pmc@aut.ac.nz
* Pacific Media Centre on Twitter - http://twitter.com/pacmedcentre
Samoa Observer editorial:
DREAVER, ROBBERY AND GUNS
Admit we've got a problem with guns and drugs
www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21131:dreaver-robbery&catid=51:editorial&Itemid=103
By Mata'afa Keni Lesa
APIA (Samoa Observer/Pacific Media Watch): Now that Television New Zealand has decided against appealing the decision by New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), we should all breathe a sigh of relief.
It's a win for Samoa, the government and our reputation as a safe tourist destination.
The decision in question is one where the BSA found that a news item breached broadcasting [codes]. The item by reporter Barbara Dreaver said Samoa was awash with guns and drugs. Further, it said money from a growing drug trade was being used to buy guns for gangs here.
A complaint was laid through the Attorney-General's Office. It alleged breach of law and order, balance, accuracy and fairness.
BSA upheld the complaint. It found the report presented only one view and ordered TVNZ to publish a summary of its findings as well as pay costs.
"In the authority's view, the cumulative effect of such a dramatic introduction coupled with the information presented in the item was to create an impression for viewers that not only was the situation in Samoa extremely serious, but government officials were complicit in the guns and drugs trade," the ruling found.
"While the reporter's information does show that there have been isolated incidences involving drugs and guns in Samoa spread over a number of years, it does not support the impression given in the item that Samoa was 'awash' with guns and drugs."
TVNZ had considered an appeal. This week, however, spokesperson Megan Richards said they had decided against it. She said they don't have the resources to pursue the matter and that TVNZ will offer an apology.
The apology will no doubt be keenly awaited on these shores since TVNZ's news is carried by two local TV stations.
But how ironic. Here we are demanding an apology for a story about guns and drugs and yet in Samoa today, we've got a serious problem with the wide availability of fire arms. Drugs - marijuana especially - has been a problem for a long time.
Just last week, masked men – which reminded us of the masked men in Dreaver's story – walked into Westpac Bank and held staff members there at gun point. They demanded the money and off they went with some $240,000.
A few days later, a man is killed at Faleatiu in a shooting incident where several guns were allegedly involved. Two other boys are fighting for their lives, as you are reading this newspaper.
And that's not all.
Last month, the police revealed that a gang of young thieves being driven around in a white van has been terrorising homes and stealing from local residents. Some of these boys allegedly poisoned one family's dogs and broke into their home.
At the Mulinu'u court house, not a day goes by without young people fronting up for drug-related incidents.
Marijuana-related offences are rife. It is quickly becoming an epidemic, one that's poisoning the minds of young people in this country.
Guns and drugs are a deadly combination. Obviously in Samoa, we are not awash with drugs and guns, as Dreaver's story suggested.
But there is enough evidence here to suggest we have a real problem.
So as we await TVNZ's apology, let's take the time to re-examine ourselves and clean our backyard. Stop denying the problem.
The thing to do is admit it and find ways to solve it.
* Comment on this item www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
+++niuswire
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.
(c)1996-2010 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.
For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, visit:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au
Email:
pmc@aut.ac.nz
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
SnailMail: Pacific Media Centre, School of Communication Studies, AUT
University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Website: www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
_______________________________________________
Pacific_media_watch mailing list
Pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au
_______________________________________________
Pacific_media_watch mailing list
Pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au
Byline – Mata'afa Keni Lesa
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Samoa Observer, 14/4/10
Copyright – SO
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
* Post a comment on this story at PMW Right of Reply:
www.pacificmediacentre.blogspot.com
pmc@aut.ac.nz
* Pacific Media Centre on Twitter - http://twitter.com/pacmedcentre
Samoa Observer editorial:
DREAVER, ROBBERY AND GUNS
Admit we've got a problem with guns and drugs
www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21131:dreaver-robbery&catid=51:editorial&Itemid=103
By Mata'afa Keni Lesa
APIA (Samoa Observer/Pacific Media Watch): Now that Television New Zealand has decided against appealing the decision by New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), we should all breathe a sigh of relief.
It's a win for Samoa, the government and our reputation as a safe tourist destination.
The decision in question is one where the BSA found that a news item breached broadcasting [codes]. The item by reporter Barbara Dreaver said Samoa was awash with guns and drugs. Further, it said money from a growing drug trade was being used to buy guns for gangs here.
A complaint was laid through the Attorney-General's Office. It alleged breach of law and order, balance, accuracy and fairness.
BSA upheld the complaint. It found the report presented only one view and ordered TVNZ to publish a summary of its findings as well as pay costs.
"In the authority's view, the cumulative effect of such a dramatic introduction coupled with the information presented in the item was to create an impression for viewers that not only was the situation in Samoa extremely serious, but government officials were complicit in the guns and drugs trade," the ruling found.
"While the reporter's information does show that there have been isolated incidences involving drugs and guns in Samoa spread over a number of years, it does not support the impression given in the item that Samoa was 'awash' with guns and drugs."
TVNZ had considered an appeal. This week, however, spokesperson Megan Richards said they had decided against it. She said they don't have the resources to pursue the matter and that TVNZ will offer an apology.
The apology will no doubt be keenly awaited on these shores since TVNZ's news is carried by two local TV stations.
But how ironic. Here we are demanding an apology for a story about guns and drugs and yet in Samoa today, we've got a serious problem with the wide availability of fire arms. Drugs - marijuana especially - has been a problem for a long time.
Just last week, masked men – which reminded us of the masked men in Dreaver's story – walked into Westpac Bank and held staff members there at gun point. They demanded the money and off they went with some $240,000.
A few days later, a man is killed at Faleatiu in a shooting incident where several guns were allegedly involved. Two other boys are fighting for their lives, as you are reading this newspaper.
And that's not all.
Last month, the police revealed that a gang of young thieves being driven around in a white van has been terrorising homes and stealing from local residents. Some of these boys allegedly poisoned one family's dogs and broke into their home.
At the Mulinu'u court house, not a day goes by without young people fronting up for drug-related incidents.
Marijuana-related offences are rife. It is quickly becoming an epidemic, one that's poisoning the minds of young people in this country.
Guns and drugs are a deadly combination. Obviously in Samoa, we are not awash with drugs and guns, as Dreaver's story suggested.
But there is enough evidence here to suggest we have a real problem.
So as we await TVNZ's apology, let's take the time to re-examine ourselves and clean our backyard. Stop denying the problem.
The thing to do is admit it and find ways to solve it.
* Comment on this item www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
+++niuswire
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.
(c)1996-2010 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.
For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, visit:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au
Email:
pmc@aut.ac.nz
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
SnailMail: Pacific Media Centre, School of Communication Studies, AUT
University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Website: www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
_______________________________________________
Pacific_media_watch mailing list
Pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au
_______________________________________________
Pacific_media_watch mailing list
Pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au
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