Media
The Role of the Presse
Vanuatu's newest newspaper tries to bring meaning to the news.
It sounds like one of those spray-painted inscriptions on a brick wall, but with a hint of truth. Ricky Binihi, editor of Vanuatu's Port Vila Presse (http://www.presse.com.vu), has this to say of newspapers: "Most newspapers today just masturbate. They never have intercourse with their readers, just to meet the deadline. They don't go back one step and think: What does it mean?"
Binihi, whose journalism career began as a cadet reporter with the government-owned Vanuatu Weekly in 1985, says the Presse, has been lauded for its attention to detail. "We do not see the need to publish twice a week. Presently being only weekly. We have time to give sense to news stories, to help readers understand the issues that led to a news story rather then simply informing them. "For instance, why the Prime Minister has decided to make a policy statement on Vanuatu¹s economic situation while, on the other hand, it needs ADB money." The aim, he says, is not to rush to meet deadlines but "to hash out the issues."
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The Port Vila Presse's first edition came out November 11. It publishes both an English and a French edition.
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Why a new paper?
Most of the Port Vila Presse journalists were without jobs because of the
Vanuatu government¹s Comprehensive Reform Programme (CRP) downsizing, which
targets both the public and private sectors.
Most are experienced former employees of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation. They include some of Vanuatu's best trained news people.
Prior to the Presse, Vanuatu¹s newspapers were the government-owned Vanuatu Weekly; Nasara; and the best known of the independent newspapers, the groundbreaking Vanuatu Trading Post. Binihi who has done stints with Fiji¹s Daily Post and New Zealand¹s Southland Times believes that there was a need for another independent paper.
At last count, he said, the paper¹s circulation was 3,500 and distributed to other islands as well as Port Vila and its island, Efate.
The Presse has subsidised the cost for circulating the paper to five of the six Vanuatu provinces. Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, supporting a more liberal press, has said that the media have a role to play in society to ensure good governance.
Natapei proposed that parliament pass a new law to protect journalists' rights, but qualified that by stating that journalists should not sensationalise news stories for the sake of increasing circulation. While the concentration of Presse distribution is on Luganville, on the island of Espiritu Santo, and Port Vila, on Efate, Binihi says there are plans to introduce a Bislama edition for the benefit of people in the outer islands.
The Bislama edition is likely to contain features and sports news. As print media help improve literacy, Binihi believes that there is a need for more newspapers accessible to the people.
Literacy doesn't refer only to reading or writing but also, Binihi says, it means people being literate in terms of concepts of government, democracy, the Melanesian way.
The Port Vila Presse is located in the first floor of Raffea House behind Club Flamingo close to the waterfront.
