Written by MHM Admin

An organisation that campaigns for media freedom in the Pacific region has relaunched its website in a drive to better serve the broadcasters and publishers it represents in the area, and to try to help make the organisational financially self sustainable. PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association,  works with media organisations in the region to promote media freedom, training, development and cooperation. It also delivers a news service to members.

The advent of new technology and the influence of globalization has encouraged us at PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association, to revamp our website. The old site needed a new direction and a more professional look.

Following extensive research, a report, compiled by an independent consultancy group funded by AusAID , noted that PINA would not be sustainable in the future if it continued to rely on membership fees alone.

The current PINA Board took the bold step in 2007 of employing a full time manager to start the ball rolling towards a more sustainable organisation, without losing focus on PINA’s core business which is to:

• Promote and defend freedom of expression in the region in the interest of its members
• Promote and develop professional standards through training and education in all area of news media
• Promote and develop professional fellowship, cooperation and building partnerships.

Financial limitations and the continuing difficult economic situation has meant that PINA has had to recover from self-inflicted man-made disasters to regain composure and status as the ‘Voice’ of the media in the Pacific.

Some wounds take longer to heal, but PINA is slowly getting to its feet and the launch of the new look web site brings a breeze of fresh air from the vast Pacific Ocean.

Communication is vital in our region of the world and PINA members in the 22 island nations in the Pacific are expected to benefit from this new development.

We are separated by water but communication through the media (radio, television, print and on-line) is keeping the Pacific community connected.

PINA hopes that revenue, generated by advertisers on the new PINA website, will assist in so many ways in order to have appropriate financial and business plans and sound accountable structures in place.

PINA with the help of Media Helping Media's training resources, and support from other stakeholders, will help generate more accessible professional training for media people especially journalists.We require a lot of training on online journalism, web hosting and blogging for the time being.