PACIFIC Islands News Association (PINA) president, Moses Stevens has encouraged national media associations to be empowered to give strong voice for PINA.
Stevens stated this when he met with members of Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) at Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) last Friday before his departure to his home country in Vanuatu.
He said currently PINA don’t do activities to strengthen national media associations after AusAid pulled out and formed Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).
“PINA really like to encourage media associations to be strong so PINA can have strong voice.
“PINA cannot speak for anyone but its members and the national associations represent the members,” he said.
Stevens said he is happy to see democratic elections in Fiji and its media association is coming very stronger now and also MASI, Vanuatu Media Association and Media Association of Tonga coming back as well.
He said if MASI is active, donors are ready to fund its programmers.
Furthermore, Stevens encouraged media to focus on educational part of journalism to inform the people in the rural areas rather than chasing headlines.
“This is a challenge for radio stations because it reaches out to everyone unlike newspapers are circulated in the provincial centres only,” he added.
Stevens headed PINA since 2007.
He used to work for PACNEWS in Solomon Islands since 1991 and came back again to work for Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation in 1993.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
