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Dialogue Fiji launches book on ethnic relations

From left: USP Journalism Coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh, Dialogue Fiji chairman Nemani Buresova and executive director Nilesh Lal at the launch of the Dialogue Fiji publication, Ethnic Relations in Fiji: Threats and Opportunities at USP's Laucala campus last Friday. Picture: WANSOLWARA By WANSOLWARA STAFF Non-state actors have a very important roles to play in bringing about desired social change in order to sustain a multiethnic and multicultural society, says Dialogue Fiji (DF) executive director Nilesh Lal while launching a book on ethnic relations in Fiji. The Dialogue Fiji publication, titled “Ethnic Relations in Fiji: Threats and Opportunities”, was launched last…

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Top journo student dedicates win to family

Recipients of the 2019 USP Journalism Awards. Picture: SUPPLIED/ANA CIVAVONOVONO By WANSOLWARA STAFF Solomon Islands student Rosalie Nongebatu scooped the Fiji Sun premier award for the most outstanding journalism student during the 2019 USP Journalism Awards at Laucala campus in Suva last night, dedicating the recognition to her husband and three children. Nongebatu also won the Islands Business award for best feature reporting, adding on to her awards from last year's event for best radio student and co-sharing the best regional reporting. " I dedicate both the awards to my children and husband, who have been my pillar of strength since…

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Stage set for 2019 USP Journalism Awards

Last year's recipients of the Fiji Sun Award for the Most Outstanding Journalism Student Koroi Tadulala (second from left) and Elizabeth Osifelo (second from right) with USP Journalism Programme coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh (right), Fiji Sun's Maraia Vula (middle) and Professor David Robie (former head of the USP Journalism Programme) . Picture: WANSOLWARA FILE By WANSOLWARA STAFF TWELVE journalism awards will be up for grabs tonight at the 2019 USP Journalism Awards in Suva. Organised by The University of the South Pacific Journalism Programme, the event in its 19th year, is the longest running journalism awards in the region. It…

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AUSPS Women’s Wing hosts CHIP for health and wellness

AUSPS Women’s Wing executives from left Komal Karishma, Rosalia Fatiaki and Alanieta Lesuma-Fatiaki (second from right) with Dr Alipate Vakamocea (third from left) and AUSPS Youth representative Rona Finiasi. Picture: SUPPLIED/AUSPS Women’s Wing By WANSOLWARA STAFF The Association of The University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) Women’s Wing has joined the fight against rising cases of chronic diseases, hosting a forum on the Complete Health Improvement Programme (CHIP) at USP’s Japan-Pacific ICT Multipurpose Theatre, Laucala campus in Suva today. The CHIP initiative is part of the AUSPS Women’s Wings activities for the year and aims to promote and advocate…

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Pacific journos converge in Suva for ‘talkfest’

Journalists from 11 Pacific Island countries were part of the East-West Centre's Pacific Islands Journalism Reporting Tour 2019. Picture: SUPPLIED By WANSOLWARA STAFF Twelve leading journalists from 11 Pacific Island countries converge in Suva, Fiji, this Friday, to discuss critical issues affecting the region, including climate change and natural disaster relief and recovery, and regional security. The one-day Capstone at The University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Campus marks the culmination of three weeks of dialogue, study and reporting tour of the U.S undertaken by the journalism fellows, covering Honolulu, Washington D.C., Galveston, and San Francisco. The study tours funded by…

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Report reveals alleged instances of ‘significant cash leakages’ at USP

By GERALDINE PANAPASA The Auckland-based accounting firm that carried out an independent investigation into recent allegations of abuse of office at The University of the South Pacific has found that four remuneration mechanisms were collectively exploited, resulting in significant cash leakages across the University over a number of years. According to the Summary of the Independent Investigation Report by BDO Auckland, released yesterday by the Special Committee of the USP Council, these mechanisms included inducement allowances, responsibility and acting allowances, bonuses and consultancy arrangements. The summary did not specify in dollar terms the cost to USP of the "significant cash leakages" and it did not implicate anyone by name, although these details…

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PCC, Youngsolwara lead candlelight vigil for West Papua

Youngsolwora students from USP stand in solidarity with West Papua during the candlelight vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Suva on Friday. Picture: HARRISON SELMEN By HARRISON SELMEN The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) and YoungSolwora students at The University of the South Pacific led a candlelight vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Suva on Friday to support West Papuan’s call for a referendum and independence. The event was a show of solidarity to share and pray for West Papua as recent media reports revealed escalating tension, unrest and alleged deaths of indigenous West Papuan protestors.…

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USP Council appoints commission to implement BDO findings, recommendations

By EPARAMA WARUA A commission appointed by The University of the South Pacific Council has been tasked with implementing the findings and recommendations of an independent investigative report by Auckland-based accounting firm BDO into recent allegations of abuse of office. The allegations, which surfaced almost three months ago, were levelled against some senior management and former vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra. The report was presented to the USP Council during a special meeting in Nadi last week and was undertaken after a paper was prepared by USP vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia early this year titled, ‘Issues, Concerns and Breaches…

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Call for Pacific journos to adapt to change

Prof Wenger, right, during a recent workshop on New Media and Multimedia Reporting with regional journalists in Suva. Picture: SUPPLIED/US EMBASSY SUVA By GERALDINE PANAPASA JOURNALISTS and the news media industry as a whole must adapt continuously to critical developments in the marketplace in order to survive and thrive in the digital age, with Fiji and the Pacific being no exceptions, says US academic Professor Debora Wenger. In her recent seminar at The University of the South Pacific Laucala Campus, Suva, titled 'Quality journalism in a digital world', the veteran journalist said multimedia skills and innovation were crucial for meeting the challenges of a rapidly-changing media landscape. She…

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Visiting US professor says multimedia skills, innovation vital for new-age journalism

Participants of the regional workshop on new media and multimedia reporting facilitated by Professor Debora Wenger and organised by the US Embassy Suva this week. Picture: US Embassy Suva Facebook Page By BEN BILUA Multimedia skills and innovation is key to adapting to the changing media landscape, says US academic Professor Debora Wenger as newsmakers around the world continue to grapple with challenges arising from the transformation of technology and social media. Speaking to journalists at a regional workshop on new media and multimedia reporting organised by the United States Embassy Suva this week, Prof Wenger said other media platforms would…

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