Subsidise newspaper companies

Letters

NEWS and information is vital in today’s world in which media industries play a key role in providing and circulating news and information to all corners of the world and within the country.
People need to be informed about what is happening around the country and aboard.
In Papua New Guinea, daily newspapers, The National and Post Courier, plays a significant role in providing and circulating news and information to all centres of the country which is a big task but they are doing a good job.
The point that I want to make is that, in the past, both papers were sold at K1 but last year Post Courier doubled its price from K1 to K2 and earlier this year The National followed suit.
We understand that with the increase goods and services and the state of doing business in PNG, it was a necessary increase.
However, the increase has affected people like me, a student.
I usually budget K1 to buy the newspaper and have money for bus fares and food from the money my parents give me.
Now I cannot buy newspapers because of the increased price.
Therefore, I call on the Marape government to lessen the burden on the media industry, particularly the print media, subsidise them in some way or regulate them so that they can inform us (students/unemployed) at an affordable rate.
We deserve to know what is happening around the country and aboard.

Helda Daniel,
Gerehu St. Paul’s Primary School
Port Moresby