New book on South Pacific journalism looks at region’s history and challenges
A new book which examines contemporary media concepts such as critical development journalism, conflict-sensitive journalism and deliberative journalism in the context of the South Pacific region is being launched at AUT University.
In Don’t Spoil My Beautiful Face: Media, Mayhem and Human Rights in the Pacific, independent journalist and media educator Dr David Robie introduces reportage of major Asia-Pacific social-political and environmental issues over three decades.
He also argues for a more comprehensive, reflective and in-depth media response to the region’s challenges from Tahiti Nui and Polynesian nations in the east to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and West Papua in the west.
Dr Robie reported on the conflict between France and Kanak activists in New Caledonia that almost ended in civil war. He was harassed by French secret service agents and arrested at gunpoint. He was on board the original Rainbow Warrior on her last voyage that ended with the bombing by state terrorists in 1985. He has reported on coups in Fiji and the Philippines, and was a media educator in Suva in 2000 when his students provided award-winning coverage of an attempted coup.
Dr David Robie is now director of AUT University’s Pacific Media Centre and professor of journalism in AUT University’s School of Communication Studies. He is the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior and Mekim Nuis: South Pacific Media, Politics and Education. He is also founding editor of the Pacific Journalism Review, convenor of Pacific Media Watch and publishes the media blog Café Pacific www.cafepacific.blogspot.com
TVNZ Pacific current affairs journalist Barbara Dreaver will launch the book at the AUT University Library on Thursday, April 24th from 4pm to 6pm.
What: Launch of Don’t Spoil My Beautiful Face: Media, Mayhem and Human Rights in the Pacific, Dr David Robie, published by Little Island Press in association with the Pacific Media Centre.
When: Thursday, April 24, 4-6pm
Where: AUT Library, WA, City Campus
Buy the book online here.