1 The Pacific Cooperation Foundation is once again running its Media Assistance Programme, which provides financial assistance to New Zealand based journalists – covering airfares, accommodation and ground transport – so that they can travel to the heart of a story in the Pacific.
“A key function of the foundation is to develop New Zealander’s understanding of the Pacific and what better way to do that than by giving New Zealand media the opportunity to report stories directly from the Pacific,” said Meg Poutasi, CEO of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.
“Grants are available from the Media Assistance Programme each year and I’d encourage any interested journalists to talk to us about using the funds,” prompted Ms Poutasi.
This year, the foundation has already assisted four journalists and one TV crew. This included Sunday Star Times journalist Adam Dudding, who investigated the human rights implications of a Vanuatu coronial report, published by NZ judge Nevin Dawson, into the death in custody of a recaptured prison escapee.
PCF seems to have its fingers in every aspect of the Pacific pie be it Educational, Community, Cultural, Land Issues, Research and more. They seem to be handing out grants & fundings like no body’s business and give the impression that it plans to monopile every aspect of Pacific/Oceania.
It needs to ease off and allow Pacific people execise their ability to self-determine their pathways. It need not be controlled and dictated by Pacific Corporation as the case seems to be.