In order to engage in an informed manner in a democracy, it is essential for citizens to have access to up-to-date and reliable information. A free and independent media sector is vital. In addition, people must have access to affordable and dependable means of accessing media outputs, such as daily newspapers and radio and television broadcasts. Research outputs in this area relate to media freedom and news media coverage of major events.
Projects / Initiatives
- IB 2023/04 Media Freedom, Accountability and Online Misinformation in Papua New Guinea
- DP 2022/02 News Coverage of Fiji’s 2018 General Election Campaign: Insights from a Content Analysis of the National Print and Broadcast Media
- IB 2020/29 China’s Media Strategy in the Pacific
- DP 2017/1 State of the Media Review in Four Melanesian Countries — Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu — in 2015
- Watson, A. H. A., & Singh, S. (2023), Pacific media freedom since the pandemic. Pacific Journalism Review: Te Koakoa, 29(1 & 2), 54-64.
- Watson, A. H. A. (2022), Communication, information and the media, Papua New Guinea: Government, Economy and Society, edited by Howes, S & Pillai, L. ANU Press, Canberra, pp. 223-259. ISBN (online) 9781760465032.
Pacific Media Freedom: An Update
13 June 2025
Devpolicy Blog
By Dr Amanda H A Watson and A/P Shailendra B. Singh.