Papua New Guinea’s ICT Minister Timothy Masiu, Pacific Envoy of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, highlighted a significant development for the Pacific’s ICT sector during his remarks at the 19th Asia Media Summit in Kuala Lumpur, held from September 1-5, 2024. Masiu drew attention to the Final Communiqué of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Summit, held in Tonga on August 30, where leaders formally integrated ICT into the PIF architecture.
“This Papua New Guinea-led initiative is timely and a positive intervention at the highest regional political level — the PIF,” Masiu said. This move enables Pacific ICT leaders to collaborate on key areas such as cybersecurity, digital skills, regional data exchanges, cybercrime, disaster management, and advancing a digital government and society.
The PIF Leaders’ recognition of ICT within the Forum’s infrastructure blends well with the Summit’s theme, “Media: The New Odyssey.” Masiu highlighted the key role ICT plays in revitalising the news media, especially for upholding democracy and freedom of speech in the Pacific.
“Pacific media, like the media elsewhere, is in peril. The digital disruption and COVID-19 pandemic have devastated advertising revenue — the lifeblood of the business,” Masiu added, noting that Pacific media faces an existential crisis.
He emphasized that small, remote Pacific nations need greater support from regional and international partners, highlighting the importance of building close ties with Asian media. “Asia and the Pacific share many commonalities — culturally, politically, and historically. Yet, Asian media’s engagement in the Pacific is minimal,” Masiu said, calling for enhanced collaboration and exchanges between Pacific and Asian media and academic institutions.
In addressing these challenges, Masiu also advocated for more media research, particularly on climate change, and greater government support for private media, noting that “journalism is a public good.”
Looking forward, Masiu urged the Asia-Pacific region to use the Summit as a “Call to Action,” fostering stronger partnerships in technology, education, and research to support a more resilient media landscape. “We need a holistic approach to revitalise Pacific media by focusing on the media industry, education, and research,” Masiu concluded.
Source: Samoa Observer