> PACIFIC: Tonga Government Plans Information Strategy
> GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA Government Information Unit Prime
> Minister's Office Nuku'alofa TONGA MEDIA STATEMENT March 14, 2002
> TONGA GOVERNMENT PLANS INFORMATION STRATEGY Samba, the Fiji design and
> public relations company, will assist the Tongan Government to improve
> its media communications. Government spokesperson Hon. Clive Edwards
> said it was important for the public to be more fully informed about
> key issues affecting the Kingdom and its people. Hon. Clive Edwards
> said the Government was concerned about media reports which painted a
> distorted picture of Tonga. "Some of the reportage, locally and
> overseas, is extremely biased and damaging," says Hon. Clive Edwards.
> "There is responsibility on the part of Government to correct this. We
> also need to highlight some of the positive aspects about our country,
> its culture and way of life. But our capacity to communicate is
> severely limited because the Government machinery is inadequate."
> Samba director, Matt Wilson, and consultant, Mue Bentley, met
> Ministers in Nuku'alofa this week. They were briefed on the
> Government's existing media/communication and information systems and
> had discussions on many related issues. Matt Wilson is a well-known
> and respected figure in Fiji's media industry and is familiar with the
> region. He is a former chief- of-staff of the Fiji Times and editorial
> director of Islands Business. Mr. Wilson was one of the founders of
> Communications Fiji, owner of the South Pacific's largest commercial
> radio network. He has been actively associated with journalism
> training. Samba's public relations manager, Emelita Wendt-Wilson, also
> has a background in journalism. She worked at the Fiji Times and the
> forerunner of the Islands Business magazine. Ms. Wendt-Wilson served
> as information specialist at the American Embassy in Suva and is a
> former public relations director of Air Pacific. Mr. Wilson says in
> common with many regional countries, Tonga has difficulties with its
> media relations and communications. "This is largely due to the lack
> of resources and trained specialists," he said. "The Tongan Government
> is rightly concerned about negative coverage of the Kingdom's
> affairs." "The initial stage of our assignment is to gather
> information and to evaluate the information system in place at the
> moment and then to propose a detailed information strategy and
> communication plan." Mr. Wilson has visited Tonga on a number of
> occasions, on a variety of assignments. For further information please
> contact: Government Information Unit Prime Minister's Office
> Nuku'alofa TONGA Tel: (676) 24 644 Fax: (676) 23 888 Email:
> pmomail@pmo.gov.to <mailto:pmomail@pmo.gov.to> or kmatoto@pmo.gov.to
> <mailto:kmatoto@pmo.gov.to> Website: www.pmo.gov.to
>
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