Public media must be free from government pressure

Reporters Without Borders condemns yesterday’s suspension of Dora Matheang, executive news director of the country’s main public broadcaster, National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), allegedly due to pressure from authorities during the political crisis. Following her suspension, the station’s management issued a directive requiring all reports on political or sensitive issues to be reviewed by two newly promoted newsroom members before being broadcast. “We call on NBC management to reinstate Dora Matheang,” said Reporters Without Borders. “Her abrupt removal is a manifestation of political interference in public media in the Pacific. It is regrettable that NBC is under pressure over the content of its news coverage at a time when Papua New Guinea is experiencing a major political crisis.” Reporters Without Borders also urged Michael Somare, who has just temporarily resigned as prime minister in response to allegations of concealing his personal financial situation, to speak out publicly about Matheang’s suspension and reiterate his commitment to press freedom. According to the Post, NBC General Manager Memafu Kapera removed Matheang and made other changes to the newsroom after Somare supporters complained that the station was overly negative about the political situation. Kapera denied that he was acting at the request of the government. Prime Minister Somare has frequently criticized the media in the past, accusing them of bias against him. The Pacific Freedom Forum (www.pacificfreedomforum.org) condemned Matheang’s dismissal as a violation of the public’s right to independent news coverage. In the 2010 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, Papua New Guinea ranked 43rd out of 178 countries.