NBC journos sidelined
The National, Wednesday November 6th, 2013
By SHEILA MALKEN
THREE senior journalists from the National Broadcasting Corporation and another two from Kundu 2 TV have been stood down over claims of biased reporting against the Government.
NBC news editor Michael Asagoni and Kundu 2 TV’s chief editor Mulai Robby and executive producer Dick Sorariba were issued with official letters by the management last week instructing them to vacate their positions.
Senior TV journalists Jerry Ginua and Wesley Manuai were reprimanded following claims of biased reporting on Opposition leader Belden Namah’s recent press conference.
Asagoni, Sorariba and Robby received their letters from NBC managing director Memafu Kapera informing them that they were “relieved of their positions effective from Nov 1”.
They have been transferred to the archives section of the government broadcaster.
“One of the journalists has been told by the management not to have anything to do with radio or television,” a source close to the issue said yesterday.
Sorariba was accused of producing news stories that supported the PNG Sustainable Development Program’s conflict with the O’Neill Government.
Efforts to get comments from Kapera have been unsuccessful.
NBC’s legal officer Migishi Giruakonda denied claims that the senior journalists had been stood down.
He said they were not suspended and told The National not to publish the story.