Media Release | Saturday, July 13, 2024
Today, Australia launched its Indo-Pacific Broadcast Strategy, which provides a framework for expanding the engagement of Australia’s broadcast and media sector across the region.
The Asia-Pacific Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue for Development (AP4D) welcomes the establishment of the Indo-Pacific Media Fund to support media organisations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The strategy is in line with recent AP4D recommendations to strengthen local media activities, which are crucial for democracy, development and good governance.
“AP4D is a game changer,” said Melissa Conley Tyler, AP4D Executive Director.
“Journalism plays a vital role in the Indo-Pacific region and it is always welcome to see Australia support a media ecosystem that is essential to development, democracy and good governance.”
“Recent consultations with media in Pacific islands, including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga and the Cook Islands, revealed that many media organisations rely on ageing infrastructure and struggle to access funding to support their publishing and broadcasting.
“AP4D strongly supports investments that support the financial viability of Pacific newsrooms and expand access to journalism.
“A strong media sector is crucial to counter the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation and to shape the region’s trajectory in the context of strategic competition.”
For further information, including details of Pacific Media interviewed for the AP4D paper, please contact Melissa Conley-Tyler on 0409 765 787.
