Next year Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) School of Communications will offer a new Graduate Diploma in Pacific Journalism, a programme spearheaded by Pacific Media Centre director Dr David Robie.

The development of the course follows a global trend towards specialist journalism courses. “There is an increasing demand for more journalists in the growing Pasifika media industry and also for highly-skilled cross-cultural journalists for the mainstream,” says Dr Robie. “This new course is a logical outcome of the demographic changes in New Zealand, and particularly Auckland.”

The new course targets Pacific peoples who wish to enter journalism from another career, students from around the Pacific region seeking a New Zealand qualification, and Pacific students working towards a career in Pasifika or mainstream media.

Students will take core papers from the Bachelor of Communication Studies in Journalism as well as Pasifika media papers and other electives that reflect particular interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The core papers provide the necessary skills to prepare students for professional journalism work and include a media industry internship and study of a Pacific language.

“This course will boost regional Pacific reporting and also contribute to a higher Pasifika community profile in the New Zealand media,” says Dr Robie. “We hope journalists on this programme will push the boundaries of Pacific reporting in a challenging way.”

Director of AUT’s Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy Associate Professor Martin Hirst says the aim is not to sideline Pacific students or to completely “mainstream” them, but to give them a solid foundation in the principles of good journalism, integrated with a successful degree programme.

“And to encourage Pasifika students and journalists to nurture and extend their specific skills and values to better represent and report on Pasifika communities and issues, in both local community media and more broadly throughout New Zealand.”

Visit the AUT website for more information on the Graduate Diploma in Pacific Journalism.