| Business |
New horizons for The National
YESTERDAY, the Prime Minister opened
a major new investment in Lae. Pacific Star Ltd, publisher of The
National, now has a second PNG printing and distribution facility.
The development of this project has been a priority of the
company, and signifies the importance The National attaches to
reaching the far-flung peoples of our country.
The development of additional production facilities outside of
Port Moresby is an important step towards that goal.
In his opening address, Sir Michael complimented The National,
saying that the newspaper “has lived up to its name and given a
national and nationalistic perspective to most issues confronting
the nation”.
He stressed the importance of journalists giving balanced and
accurate coverage in their reporting in order “to let our people
form their own opinions”.
Noting that the new factory in Lae is an extension of The
National’s steady growth, Sir Michael added: “I commend you for
being the first newspaper to establish a second printing plant in
the country.”
The new Lae facility is a K2 million investment in building,
equipment, machinery and manpower.
Referring to some of the effects the new facility could have on
the Lae and Morobe communities, the Prime Minister said: “These
developments mean more jobs, spin-off opportunities and added
revenue for everyone – the people, the provincial and national
governments and, of course, the company itself.”
He said the newspaper had broadened the focus of regional
coverage, with more news and opinion now available to readers. As
Sir Michael noted: “While we are an island nation in the Pacific
... it is in our interest to know about the developments around us
... The National provides its readers with wider coverage of
issues in the Asia-Pacific region.”
It is true that The National has placed additional emphasis on the
coverage of Asian affairs in recognition of the growing
inter-activity of the PNG and Asian economies. That growth comes
as the result of a number of influences. One is the geography
involved, with PNG forming a link between Asia and the Pacific
nations.
Another is the growing economic, social and cultural outreach to
Asia by both the established South Pacific nations such as PNG and
the more recently independent countries and even the handful of
continuing colonial territories.
In recent years, there has been both an expressed and implied
tendency to “look North”.
The National does not see this emphasis as a move to diminish
traditional markets and long-standing allegiances with nations
such as Australia and New Zealand, but as additions to those
relationships.
PNG shares many borders. One is to the south, with Australia. Most
of our remaining borders lie to the north-west and the east. Some
are with South Pacific nations and territories, while others link
us with Asia.
The National has sought to be even-handed in its coverage of this
remarkable array of neighbours, and to reflect the diversity and
depth of their cultures in our pages.
Reporting of the Asian region has mirrored events in PNG, with a
marked increase in Chinese, Malaysian and other Asian investments
in our country. With those investments comes the need for our own
people to gain an understanding of Asian cultures, traditions,
politics and language.
At the same time The National is committed to giving Papua New
Guineans the widest possible text and pictorial coverage of events
from around the globe.
There is no better example of that compact with our readers than
The National’s coverage of the shattering attack on the New York
World Trade Centre in 2001.
Although the incident occurred late in the evening, PNG time, we
were able to publish a four-page colour wrap in time for the next
day’s edition.
That coverage brought home to our country the horror and tragedy
of an event many thousands of kilometres away.
Our business is the immediacy of breaking news.
It is also the reflection of expert opinions; the instant pulse of
both domestic and international business and industry and the
provision of a platform for a diverse readership.
The Prime Minister’s opening yesterday of our new facility in Lae
will materially assist us in maintaining those commitments to our
readers throughout PNG.
 
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