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THE media industry in Papua New Guinea is
to come under the microscope of the Government.
The Information and Communication Department plans to review a policy
known as the National Information and Communication Policy (NPIC) which
dates back to 1994, to come up with guidelines for the media.
Information and Communication has been split from Private Enterprises
and is a separate department, with Kokopo MP Patrick Tammur as minister
responsible.
The department’s acting secretary Henao Iduhu announced recently that
the NPIC review “is important so that the rules of engagement for the
media industry and publishing houses are clear”.
“We must ensure that the media industry abide by professional ethics,”
Mr Iduhu said in a statement released during a ministerial briefing with
Mr Tammur last month.
“We must ensure that they play the game within guidelines set out by the
Government and not allow them to move the goal post. Everybody plays to
our rules, to ensure that everybody is a winner.”
Asked to clarify his comments and whether it meant the Government was
moving to restrict free speech and freedom of the press by introducing
guidelines, Mr Iduhu said this was not what was intended.
“Freedom of media will not be curtailed at all. All I’m saying is it is
a two-way thing,” he said, adding the PNG Media Council would be invited
to contribute to the review.
He said if the media plays its part and report fairly, accurately and
responsibly, there would be no cause for alarm.
Mr Iduhu said the review would start towards the end of the year or
early next year when funds were made available in the budget.
Meanwhile, the department was also seeking K1.5 million from the
Treasury Department to begin the feasibility study for the introduction
of a television station run by the Government.
The National Television Station for PNG would come under the National
Broadcasting Corporation umbrella.
Mr Iduhu said a consultant is being sought to undertake the study and to
advise the Government on the TV proposal.
 
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