THe PNG government says the media legislation is needed to "address the ongoing concerns about sensationalism, ethical standards, and the portrayal of violence in the media." Photo: The National / EMTV / InsidePNG / Post Courier
The Papua New Guinea government is reportedly ready to pass a legislation to regulate its media, which journalism advocates have said could have serious implications for democracy and freedom of speech in the country.
Since the Communications Minister Timothy Masiu first introduced the draft policy in February 2023, the Media Development Policy has received heavy criticism.
The policy aims to support and improve PNG's media standards and how journalists report on issues, according to the government.
Masiu has maintained that the legislation is much needed.
He has previously said that "we want to protect" the freedom of the press, and the policy will allow it to do this. But critics of the document argue that the policy will do the opposite if it is passed into law and called for it to be ditched.
However, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of PNG reported on Monday that the policy has received the "green light" from Cabinet to be presented in parliament.
The state broadcaster reported that Masiu believes "this policy will address the ongoing concerns about sensationalism, ethical standards, and the portrayal of violence in the media."
"We must be more responsible in how we report and portray the issues that matter most to our country. It's time for Papua New Guinea's media to evolve and reflect the values that truly define us," Masiu was quoted as saying by NBC.
"Sensational headlines, graphic images of violence, and depictions of suffering do nothing to build our national identity. They only hurt our reputation globally," he said.
Masiu told NBC that the legislation "aims to regulate sensitive contents and shift towards more constructive and informative coverage".
He added that once it becomes law, it will usher in "a new era of journalism" in the country.
Timothy Masiu Photo: PNG Government
However, Scott Waide, a veteran journalist and RNZ Pacific correspondent in PNG, said the government needs to let the media do its work with fear or favour.
"We previously, spoke out against an earlier draft of the policy. While the Minister has expressed the intention of the policy, he is articulating existing problems that have not been addressed by the government," he said.
"These include the need for investment into journalism training, the need for investment into media literacy and in general, the education system.
Waide said the PNG media needs to be free to be able to continue to highlight the issues that people face in the country.
"The argument that the image of the country is being tarnished by the media holds little value in the current environment.
"Address the corruption, address the crime, health and education. Media control could be the least of their priorities," he added.
