Getting it right? : Globalistion, colonialism and the media in the Pacific

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase complained this year of “inaccuracy, misinformation, distortion and bias” in reporting the Pacific region. He saw the solution as more training for Pacific journalists. Yet there is more to “getting it right” than accurately reporting Mr Qarase’s “facts”. What of journalists’ un-stated cultures and conventions, which frame international news so that Australian reporting of Pacific events may bear little resemblance to Pacific community priorities? How might these align with international diplomatic agendas? Are the resulting perceptions of misinformation and distortion created by differing national priorities, corporate interests, cultural assumptions or even refreshed colonial prejudices? This paper examines Australian press reporting of the Pacific Forum Summit meeting held in Samoa in August 2004 and compares it to that of the Pacific regional press. Journalists' views were considered in the context of the official communiqué issued at the end of the conference.