Top Asia-Pacific media award for AUT Pacific Media Centre director
Auckland University of Technology Professor in Communication Studies David Robie was recently honoured for his significant contribution to the Asia-Pacific media landscape at the 24th Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) conference held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
AMIC board member Dr Pirongrong Ramasoota of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand says the prestigious Asia Communication Award was awarded to Professor Robie for his “unstinting contribution” as an Asia-Pacific journalist, media educator and “human rights and environmental champion”.
Dr Ramasoota added that Professor Robie’s twenty years of journalism and academic research in Asia-Pacific media had made an exceptional impact in all areas of the award categories – research, education, institution building and excellence in journalism.
A delighted Professor Robie says the award signals a strong recognition for Pacific media, and as a counterbalance of Western dominance in research and publication culture led by globalisation.
“While living and working in Pacific countries for a decade, I recognised and have long-supported independent strands of ‘Pacificness’ in both journalism and research. In a sense, this award has recognised that independence of thought.
“Huge thanks to AUT senior lecturer in communications Khairiah Rahman who originally nominated me for the award, and to my wife Del Abcede, for her strong support and the contribution she has made to the success of the Pacific Media Centre as a volunteer. Big thanks also to Susan O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer in the School of Communications, and Pacific Student Support Advisor Isabella Rasch; Faculty Equity Co-ordinator, Tui O’Sullivan; and Associate Prof Camille Nakhid on the PMC board,” says Professor Robie.
New edition of Pacific Journalism Review launched
A new book edition of Pacific Journalism Review co-edited by Dr Robie, Professors Barry King and Wendy Bacon, and Dr Philip Cass, was also launched at the conference, marking 20 years of publication for the regional research journal.
The new edition, “Political journalism in the Asia-Pacific”, will cater to a wider international readership with the addition of the peer-reviewed papers presented at the Pacific Journalism Review conference held in Auckland last November.
Professor Robie commended the collaboration between the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and Pacific Media Centre.
“The publication of this book represents a new stage in the Asia-Pacific partnership between these two centres and we hope more books of this nature will follow for the region.”
Pacific Media Centre publications available at AUT Shop