Pasifika and diversity strong ‘winners’ at AUT media awards

Some of the diversity award winners, donors and staff at the AUT School of Communication Studies awards last night: Malia Latu (from left). RNZ Pacific’s Moera Tuilaepa, MC Star Kata, Sri Krishnamurthi, Blessen Tom (holding the Storyboard), Jim Marbrook, Professor David Robie, and Colin McKay (Geraldine Lopdell Trust). Picture: SUPPLIED/Del Abcede/PMC

By MICHAEL ANDREW/Asia Pacific Report

Diversity was a winner at AUT’s School of Communication Studies annual awards last night with several Pacific Media Centre contributors taking out top prizes.

Digital postgraduate student Sri Krishnamurthi was awarded the RNZ Pacific Prize for Asia-Pacific Journalism for his coverage of the Fijian general elections last year.

“It means a lot to me and it means a lot to Pacific people, in particular Pacific journalism,” he said.

A strong sports news journalist working with a news agency for many years, last year was his first foray into Pacific political journalism.

He said there was a lack of awareness about the Pacific and its problems.

However, he plans to continue developing journalism in the region through doctoral studies.

“Asia-Pacific journalism is something that is very dear to my heart,” he said.

A veteran journalist from Fiji, Krishnamurthi praised Dr David Robie and the Pacific Media Centre, which he said was invaluable to AUT and to New Zealand.

READ MORE: Flight of the myna: A reflection of Fiji 30 years on by Shri Krishnamurthi.

Coveted award
A former postgraduate student Blessen Tom was awarded the coveted Oceania Media’s SPASIFIK Magazine Prize and the PMC Storyboard Award for diversity reporting.

A former postgraduate student Blessen Tom was awarded the coveted Oceania Media’s SPASIFIK Magazine Prize and the PMC Storyboard Award for diversity reporting.

Tom, who reported on a range of diversity stories lst year and also co-produced the climate change documentary Banabans of Rabi for the PMC’s Bearing Witness project, said the award came as a surprise but it felt fantastic all the same.

“To get an award for diversity reporting is amazing because I never knew I could do it, and the New Zealand media is pretty white so I’m very proud.”

Tom is now working as a junior producer for the TVNZ show Fair Go. He said he would use the experience to pursue his passion as a documentary filmmaker.

READ MORE: AUT Media Awards

• Editor’s note: Sri Krishnamurthi was part of USP Journalism’s Wansolwara news team that covered the 2018 General Election in Fiji.