Media Freedom

Today, Divine Word University in Madang joins the rest of the world in remembering Media Freedom Day. A day that pays tribute to all journalists throughout the world in their bid to disseminating information to their audiences without 'fear or favour'. Papua New Guinea is fortunate that journalists practice a very democratic media process and flow of information since its indepence. There was a time when the PNG government wanted to suppress this freedom in the 90's by ammending sections of the constitution to do with the freedom of expression, to regulate media reports on politicians and political affairs. Media freedom in PNG is vibrant and very active in this young nation.
Today, the university will pay tribute to former radio broadcaster and Communication Arts lecturer, Ian Boden. You can read more in a tribute written by Malu Nalu below.

Boden’s is a story that surpasses 40 years in Papua New Guinea, starting as a young Australian Broadcasting Broadcaster in Rabaul in 1964, seeing the birth of the National Broadcasting Commission in 1973, working with a fledgling public service after independence in 1975, working through the dark days of the Bougainville Crisis, starting with a brand new daily newspaper called The National and bringing joy to thousands of people the world over with his writing style, and teaching young Papua New Guineans about journalism until the day he died.

It will also award Martin Namorang, the writer of the Namarong report blog the DWU Communication Award, for embracing new media and publishing controversial issues on his blog. The other reciepient is the community project yumi piksa, and you can follow this on http://www.yumipiksa.org/ktp/wp-content/uploads/KTP-flyer-for-launch.pdf. Ms Joys Eggins also a former lecturer of the DWU Communication Arts department was invited to recieve the award, but wasnt able to attend. She is now, however, furthering her carreer at the University of Goroka, as the assistant manager for the Community and Social Media Center. Congratulations to both reciepients.