USP Boosts Journalism In Bid For Better Governance

USP Boosts Journalism In Bid For Better Governance In Pacific

By ZAMEEL KHAN and KAVEETA CHAND:

March 4, 2002 Wansolwara Online (USP) http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/wansolnews/2002/2002march/wansol04030 22.html

SUVA (Pacific Media Watch): Deputy Vice-Chancellor Rajesh Chandra today pledged continuing support for the University of the South Pacific's journalism programme, saying it was important for the institution's good governance strategy.

"Journalism is an important part of good governance," Professor Chandra said.

"The issue of good governance is important for the university because abuse of governance is at the core of difficulties we face in the Pacific region.

"The university believes that journalism education can make a contribution in this area."

The university is currently boosting the journalism programme with new computers and facilities and has approved in principle funding of up to $250,000 for a new purpose-built building.

The university has also recruited two more full-time staff for the journalism programme, Asia-Pacific media educator Steve Sharp and Fiji editor Shailendra Singh.

Sharp, a 39-year-old Australian, has taught community broadcasting in Indonesia and Australia. He has been appointed lecturer in radio and television journalism.

Sharp's extensive regional media and teaching experience includes design and delivery of journalism research techniques and production courses, and also workshops at leading community radio stations such as 2SER.FM and 4ZZZ.FM in Australia, and at Internews Indonesia in Jakarta.

As a journalist, he has worked for both the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Special Broadcasting Service in radio and television. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age and reported science and environmental issues for these publications and ABC Radio.

Singh, also 39, is a former editor of the Review news magazine and recently associate editor of the Daily Post in Fiji. He has been appointed assistant lecturer and will play an important editorial management role with the Wansolwara and Wansolwara Online training publications.

Singh was the first Pacific Islands journalist to gain a postgraduate scholarship with the AusAID Pacific Media Initiative (PMI) project. He undertook the MBA programme last year and will strengthen the business reporting components of the journalism programme.

Journalism coordinator David Robie and students today welcomed the new staff.

"Our new colleagues who have such experience will boost the depth of the journalism programme enormously and enhance the good work that has been done in recent years," Robie said.

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