Media Release:

Pacific Voters Need Political Journalists.

Last week the Government’s Jobs Summit debated the issues facing New Zealand’s workforce in the face of a deteriorating economy and some potential solutions.

In the subsequent reporting of the issues discussed, outlines were made which could place low-paid Pacific workers in a dire economic position. This information was disseminated to communities through specialist media. What was lacking however, was specialist Political reporting to relate this material to the affected audience.

The Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA) makes no political distinction over whether the outcome of the jobs summit or any other actions being taken by the current government, are valid or relative to the lives of Pacific peoples in New Zealand. PIMA does feel that Pacific voting populations, both current and future, in New Zealand, are recieving inadequate value for money in political news journalism.

The lack of Pacific peoples in specialist Political reporting roles is intolerable, when Pacific taxpayers are among the first to face hardship when manufacturing roles are outsourced in the current recession, and tax cuts now turn into tax hikes later to pay for government borrowing.

Maori news media with government funding are ably represented in the Parliamentary Press Galley, which ensures that these communities, some of whom face similar economic futures, are well informed and ready to face oncoming challenges. PIMA sees the installation of a Pacific person in the gallery of equal and vital importance.

ends

© Scoop Media