USP Journalism online (new UTS host): http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/
USP Journalism ("mirror" of gagged site): http://www.sidsnet.org/pacific/usp/journ/
Wansolwara Online: http://www.lookinglassdesign.com/wansolwara/wansol.html
Have your say: http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook
-------------------
SUVA: Journalism students at the University of the South Pacific have
expressed dismay over the forced shutdown of their website Pacific
Journalism Online by the university Vice-Chancellor Esekia Solofa, the
Daily Post reports.
Vice-Chancellor Solofa instructed the website to be suspended following
the attack on Fiji Television by a mob on May 28.
The students have petitioned the university authorities to have the
website reopened. Their stories are also now hosted on the journalism
school website at the University of Technology, Sydney.
The USP journalism website is used by print and online students for
practical assignments and Internet classes.
The website also hosted Wansolwara, the newspaper put together by
journalism students.
Online editor Christine Gounder said USP's action was "unacceptable"
and
posed a serious threat to media and academic freedom.
"It is disappointing and disturbing. It was a sudden decision made by
the university and we, the journalism students, were not consulted on
the matter," she said.
Wansolwara editor Reggie Dutt slammed the university's decision, saying
that the Vice-Chancellor had acted in haste.
"USP's action is in violation of media freedom and portrays hypocrisy.
It would have been better if the students and the lecturer were
consulted before shutting us off.
"We were just gaining popularity but now we are cut-off," he said.
"The sad thing is that we are not being given a formal explanation on
the matter."
International media freedom agencies and journalism schools have also
criticised the university's decision to shut the website and most have
described this action as "gagging media".
Professor John Henningham, head of the University of Queensland
journalism department, said such an act was a strike at the heart of
press and media freedom.
"Suspension of a news and information-based website is equivalent to
closing down a newspaper or TV station and clearly breaks the most
fundamental principles of press freedom to which all journalists are
pledged."
David Venables, president of the Journalism Educators Association of New
Zealand, said it was important that media organisations and universities
everywhere did not "compromise freedom of speech or press freedom and
cave in to threats of violence".
Meanwhile, a spokesperson at the university administration said that the
Vice-Chancellor was "only taking precaution".
She said the VC was mindful not to be caught up in the crossfire during
Fiji's political crisis.
* On May 19, rebel leader George Speight and six gunmen seized
Parliament. They are still holding the elected prime minister, Mahendra
Chaudhry, and 30 of his government ministers and MPs as hostages.
+++niuswire
Subject: [pasifik_nius] 2815 FIJI: Journalism students dismayed over website
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:55:32 +1300
From: Journ12 <robie_d@usp.ac.fj>
Organization: Journalism, University of the South Pacific
To: Pasifik Nius <pasifik_nius@lists.c2o.org>
Title -- 2815 FIJI: Journalism students dismayed over website shutdown
Date -- 21 June 2000
Byline -- Mithleshni Gurdayal
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- Fiji's Daily Post, 21/6/00
Copyright -- DP
Status -- Unabridged
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