{"id":14126,"date":"2015-07-21T08:13:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T12:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=14126"},"modified":"2015-07-21T08:13:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T12:13:00","slug":"in-pacific-islands-newspapers-are-a-luxury-item-radio-remains-the-staple-medium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/in-pacific-islands-newspapers-are-a-luxury-item-radio-remains-the-staple-medium\/","title":{"rendered":"In Pacific Islands, newspapers are a “luxury item”, radio remains the “staple medium”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Vanuatu-Map\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Richard Cuff, who shares the following article from The Saturday Paper<\/a>. The article\u00a0speaks to\u00a0how important radio
\nis to Pacific Islanders, and the challenges Radio Australia faces with its budget:<\/p>\n

“For many Pacific islanders, newspapers are a luxury item. On average, each newspaper in the Pacific will be read by seven people, which helps explain why the daily paper\u2019s print run is so low. While mobile phones are ubiquitous \u2013 top-up booths can be found in the most remote areas of the Pacific \u2013 the cost and patchy coverage of internet and TV mean radio is still the most accessible form of media.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026?radio remains the main staple medium for the Pacific,\u201d says Suva-born Francis Herman, who has worked in the Pacific media industry for more than 30 years as journalist, broadcaster and pre-coup CEO of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. \u201cRadio stations across the Pacific are actually opening up.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m speaking to Herman from a conference phone in the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) office at Port Vila, where Herman works as program manager. PACMAS, a four-person team funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and supported by ABC International Development, works with local and Australian media to deliver 74 programs in media training and development throughout the 22 Pacific islands.<\/p>\n

[…]The Australian government\u2019s lack of regard for the development of international media was made clear last year by the cancellation of a 10-year $220 million contract to deliver the international broadcasting service, Australia Network, to the Asia-Pacific region. The most worrying effect of this cut for many was the ABC\u2019s decision to compensate for their losses by ravaging Radio Australia.<\/p>\n

After axing three correspondents and Pacific-focused programs, Radio Australia content was replaced by translated domestic ABC programming, restricting the interaction of Radio Australia in the region and the news Australians were getting back from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the story doesn\u2019t fit the paradigm of paradise (swaying palm trees, blue water, sandy beaches) or paradise lost (coups, corruption, climate change), voices from the islands rarely get a run,\u201d wrote past Radio Australia correspondent Nic Maclellan for Inside Story<\/em> shortly after the cuts were announced.<\/p>\n

Shallow international content doesn\u2019t bode well for the development of Pacific media, with a 2013 PACMAS study showing that while Ni-Vanuatu journalists self-censor to avoid retaliation from the government, they will still run investigative pieces from other news outlets.[…]”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article on The Saturday Paper website…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, who shares the following article from The Saturday Paper. The article\u00a0speaks to\u00a0how important radio is to Pacific Islanders, and the challenges Radio Australia faces with its budget: “For many Pacific islanders, newspapers are a luxury item. On average, each newspaper in the Pacific will be read by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3781,960,3,26,43,1167],"tags":[368,1920,3713,4008,3740,102,84],"class_list":["post-14126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","category-whats-on-shortwave","tag-radio-australia","tag-radio-australia-cuts","tag-radio-vanuatu","tag-the-saturday-paper","tag-vanuatu","tag-why-radio","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3FQ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33417,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/vanuatu-asks-australia-to-restore-shortwave-to-the-pacific\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":0},"title":"Vanuatu asks Australia to restore shortwave to the Pacific","author":"Thomas","date":"August 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Asia Pacific Report via Mike Hansgen) Shortwave radio saves lives and foreign aid dollars, says McGarry Vanuatu has appealed to Australia to restore shortwave radio services to the Pacific region, after they were switched off by the ABC in 2017, reports Radio Australia. Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25045,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/radio-new-zealand-reports-vanuatu-asks-senate-for-reinstatement-of-abc-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":1},"title":"Radio New Zealand reports: Vanuatu asks senate for reinstatement of ABC shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"April 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio New Zealand\u00a0via Nigel Holmes) The government of Vanuatu sent a formal submission to the Australian Senate asking for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to resume its shortwave service. [...]In a letter, Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salwai said removing the shortwave service to Vanuatu could cost many lives in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12812,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/vanuatus-radio-services-restored\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":2},"title":"Vanuatu’s radio services restored","author":"Thomas","date":"March 24, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Australia) Broadcast communications that were knocked out by Cyclone Pam have been fully restored. Francis Herman, the ABC's program manager for the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme, says transmission engineer Steve White and local technicians have fixed Radio Vanuatu's short and medium wave service to a level better than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vanuatu-Map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Vanuatu-Map.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40163,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/pacific-beat-vanuatu-invests-in-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":3},"title":"Pacific Beat: Vanuatu invests in shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"October 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ABC Pacific Beat via Michael Bird) https:\/\/abcmedia.akamaized.net\/radioaustralia\/radioaustralia\/audio\/201910\/pba-2019-10-07-van-shortwave.mp3 Click here to listen. In the age of social media and internet technology, shortwave may be seen as traditional technology \u2014 but it still plays an important role in reaching far-flung communities, with Vanuatu's public broadcaster now investing millions of dollars to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Tecsun-R-9012-Dial-Switch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23865,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/rnzi-continues-to-serve-people-across-the-pacific-region\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":4},"title":"RNZI “continues to serve people across the Pacific region”","author":"Thomas","date":"February 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: RNZ Press Release via London Shortwave) Press release: Following the ABC's decision to cut shortwave radio transmission in the Pacific, Radio New Zealand International wants to reassure our listeners that we are committed to our Pacific broadcast partners. Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) continues to serve people across the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Pacific-Islands-Vanuatu-Fiji-Caledonia-Samoa.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Pacific-Islands-Vanuatu-Fiji-Caledonia-Samoa.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Pacific-Islands-Vanuatu-Fiji-Caledonia-Samoa.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Pacific-Islands-Vanuatu-Fiji-Caledonia-Samoa.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24544,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/rnzi-becomes-the-voice-of-the-pacific\/","url_meta":{"origin":14126,"position":5},"title":"RNZI becomes the voice of the Pacific","author":"Thomas","date":"March 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Asia Radio Today via Mark Little) As Radio Australia cuts shortwave services, RNZI becomes the voice of the Pacific Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) continues to serve people across the Pacific region, delivering essential day to day news and information and providing a vital lifeline in times of natural\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Australia-NewZealand.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Australia-NewZealand.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Australia-NewZealand.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14126\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}