Broadcasters, writers face up to NZ demographic media challenges

By Jessica Harkins: Pacific Media Centre

Challenge noun: a task or request requiring special effort.

If ever there was a word used to describe the task facing our broadcasters in the coming decade, it would be this, if last week’s ethnic diversity broadcasting forum is anything to go by.

New Zealand on Air and the Office of Ethnic Affairs hosted the forum to ask: How will the changing demography of New Zealand be served and represented in the broadcasting media?

It brought together producers, writers and broadcasters from across the country to discuss the changing face of New Zealand, and what that change might mean for their industry.

According to many of those present, special effort was most definitely required to address the evolving demographic landscape.

British High Commissioner George Fergusson says there are some “fascinating challenges” in New Zealand. He quipped, “It’s not like Britain anymore.”

He said that Britain faces some of the same challenges faced in New Zealand, but that both countries “ended up at the same square quite differently,” referring to the varying diasporas within each nation.

Fergusson emphasised the need to serve the diasporas at least as much as the mainstream.

Open media
As well as the British High Commissioner, the forum was addressed by the BBC World Service’s Murray Holgate, who was quick to say that he wouldn’t be reminiscent of Brits past, who also came to New Zealand and “talked a lot.”

“I’m not going down the route of saying what you should do,” he said

“What we have is a really advanced and open media environment that brings us a lot of challenges,” he said, bringing up the “c” word again.

He spoke of the competitive nature of broadcasting throughout the world.

“We used to be the window to the world to our audiences in this area [South Asia], which we no longer are, because the local broadcasters are bringing the world to their audiences now too.”

He made it clear that the issue was not just putting different coloured faces on the telly, or different accents on the wireless, but included addressing the “hideously white” nature of the BBC’s newsrooms.

“There are many levels at which discrimination operates. It’s part of human nature to emphasise differences rather than things in common.”

To try to alleviate this, the BBC has implemented a policy in recruiting that says if there is a candidate who is of an ethnic minority, it must be proven why that person cannot have the job.

Policy success
He says this policy has been a success so far.

“As a consequence, certainly at the lower levels of the BBC, there is a far better spread of minorities. At the management levels the BBC is still rather hideously white, it has yet to travel up the organisation.

“At World Service on the other hand, many, many of the top jobs are from the target audience. It has allowed us to be more successful, in a world which is changing very rapidly and which could leave the BBC very isolated, it has allowed us to compete. Rather than seeing different ethnicity as a cost, it is actually seen as revenue for us, something that has value,” he added.

Holgate says one of the many advantages of having diversity in the staff at the BBC World Service is in having your target audience in the building. He believes a lot of time has been saved in having people in the know within the organisation.

He explains by using China as an example. He says that many of the FM radio frequencies are used as travel stations, where the traffic situation is updated, sometimes 24/7.

“Radio has taken on a whole different meaning in Beijing than say, in London. Again, if you haven’t got the people there, you’re not going to know this. You can sit there pumping out your shortwave until you’re blue in the face, and nobody’s listening to you,” he says in his polished blue-blooded accent.

When it comes to the World Service, Holgate believes one of the most important things to think about is language.

“We broadcast to linguistic groups,” he said, “we tend to leave the ethnic group out of it.

“We are broadcasting in a language because that language is about communication,” he added.

Culture preservation
Jim Blackman, chief executive of Triangle and Stratos, says: “As New Zealand changes its face, there is a need to focus more keenly on the preservation of culture, and the preservation of language.”

But he also had some choice words for the forum attendees, and perhaps its organisers.

He relates his thoughts when first asked to partake in the forum.

“I thought; how come cultural diversity has become the new black? After all we’ve been doing it for the past ten years. Not only in Auckland, but also over the past 18 months, nationwide, on Triangle Stratos.”

Blackman says: “The problem with ethnic broadcasting is that it’s not commercial, it’s not mainstream enough for the mainstream people because there ain’t no money in it sunshine.”

Jim added that the challenge facing all small channels over the next few years is the switch to digital broadcasting, which has a huge cost attached to it.

Radio, a medium that doesn’t have the same costs as television is arguably faring the best of the two, due to the reduced cost in setting up a station.

Dozens of niches
Terri Byrne from Planet FM says: “The market, or audience as I prefer to think of it, has splintered into dozens of niches.”

She says this split has benefited radio in New Zealand, by giving rise to some of the highest per capita numbers of radio stations in the world.

“Auckland with 50 stations has more than New York or London,” she says.

Planet FM is an access radio station, which broadcasts in more than 50 languages, all made by people of those language and ethnic groups.

“Minority is mainstream, and in 2020 will be more so,” said Byrne.

She quotes Bob Geldof: “The future belongs to those who make their own media.”

“New Zealand is fabulously diverse, and when what was once mainstream media catches up with that it will hand over the tools, relax the editorial control, embrace the new aesthetic and discover the riches already being expressed in a thousand ways,” she added.

She says Planet FM’s philosophy is about giving cultural groups a channel for expression, what she sees as the true definition of what public broadcasting is. As Leslie Rule (US academic and commentator) puts it: “It’s now more about broadcasting the public”.

Byrne’s hopes for the future are clear.

“It will not be about “them” becoming like “us”, and hopefully by 2020 it will not even be about “them” explaining themselves to “us”. Hopefully it will be about all of us discovering who we are as a nation.”

New settlers
Julia Parnell, producer of TVNZ programme Minority Voices, a show that focuses on new settlers to New Zealand, talked about some of the motivation behind the show. What did they want to find out from the people they featured?

“We asked them; “What do you want to say both to your own communities and to wider New Zealand?” “What do you think people need to know about you and your experiences settling here?”

She added: “The fact is, these people already know what they need to assimilate. They know exactly what wider NZ needs to know about them. They know how to live in NZ, they just need to be heard.

“Once we understand the needs and dreams of new New Zealanders, the “other” will become the “familiar” in New Zealand broadcasting. And from there true diversity will come.”

Keynote speaker Shaun Brown of SBS Australia opened his comments to attendees with a compliment.

“In my opinion, New Zealand is, in at least some respects, ahead of Australia in confronting and debating the issue of diversity in programme making.”

His comments were met with surprise by some people in the audience, who recall his past views of ethnic diversity in the media while news executive at Television NZ, which were somewhat different from those he expressed last week.

Browning era
Bharat Jamnadas of Asia Downunder remarked that we had witnessed “the browning of Shaun Brown!”

“Perhaps he realises the meaning of his surname now,” he laughed.

Brown’s history in New Zealand broadcasting aside, what he said on Thursday was acknowledged positively.

“Seeing indigenous faces on our screens and experiencing indigenous stories should be an incidental part of our television consumption – not something that is token or categorised as ‘special event’ television, or something that is the exclusive domain of public broadcasting,” he said.

Brown also pointed out the importance of SBS as a public service in the Australian media landscape.

“Prior to SBS, diversity or foreignness was presented as unpronounceable, unpalatable or incomprehensible in the Australian media landscape. Some would argue that the broader Australian media has done little to correct this imbalance.

He said that diversity in the newsroom was also an issue.

Behind the scenes
“I can acknowledge that behind the scenes we are open to criticism for not having enough cultural diversity in our management and programming teams.

Brown is not a fan of quotas, saying they can produce “artificial results” or give the impression that staff appointed in this manner “have not got there on their own merits.”

“However,” he adds, “people in leadership positions both in New Zealand and Australia can and must do more to foster talent in the independent production sector and to entice talented people from indigenous and multicultural backgrounds into the broadcasting sector in a range of roles.

“Diversity in our industry must become just as important and front of mind as diversity on our screens.”

Tapu Misa, New Zealand Herald columnist and chair of one panel of speakers, remarked: “There is a danger of talking too much among ourselves” in terms of narrow broadcasting that isn’t aimed at a mainstream audience.

Arguably, her comments can be transferred to the people who attended and listened to each other talk of the virtues of ethnic diversity in the broadcasting industry.

In a demographic that’s constantly changing, this is no easy feat. But the challenge has been laid.

Jessica Harkins is a postgraduate Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) student on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course at AUT University. Pictures of Tapu Misa and NZ On Air's Anna Cottrell (top) and SBZ's Shaun Brown are by Del Abcede (PMC).

BBC World Service
Cafe Pacific on the 'browning of NZ media'
Minority Voices
SBS Australia
Tapu Misa's New Zealand Herald articles

Digital revolution countdown stretches Kiwi community broadcasters

By Jessica Harkins: Pacific Media Centre

Do you know who your regional broadcaster is?

Did you even know you had one, just a dial-twirl away?

More importantly, do you care if they are there?

Whatever the answers to these questions, it’s likely the people involved in the country’s 13 regional broadcasters are more concerned at the apparent lack of interest from the one organisation that should be taking a good look at the local broadcasters.

These people are asking if the government cares.

This comes after the funding pool New Zealand on Air (NZoA) allocates to regional broadcasting in New Zealand was increased from around $850,000 to $1.5 million.

Regional Television Broadcasters Association chair and chief executive of Triangle/Stratos Television Jim Blackman asks if that is all regional broadcasting is worth to the government.

“Does that allow us as broadcasters to be able to tell stories? Does that allow us to generate funds from advertising and so on to promote student TV? We have to find the money somewhere,” he says.

“We get this platitudinous response that we’re getting a 68 percent increase in funding, it’s not good enough,” he adds.

Blackman outlines the real worth of this money. He says when the $1.5 million is divided between the 13 stations (which are not guaranteed a share, they have to be eligible and apply); they are left with enough to make one and a half hours of mainstream TV quality documentary.

Frugal mentality
“One and a half hours of TV among 13 networks which serve their communities, and serve them well, is lip service. Have I gone too far?” he asks.

He says the mentality at Triangle/Stratos is one of frugality,

“We’re used to running things economically,” he says.

He says the switch to the digital platform will be hard on most small broadcasters.

“They are being forced to by the government,” he says

“No real thought has gone into it.”

Telling stories is a huge part of the regional broadcaster’s mentality. They are in the community, for the community.

Carol Peters of TV North puts it best, describing the station as an incubator.

“TV North stimulates media in Whangarei. TV stations are an opportunity for people to showcase art, and get jobs, and do training. Our relationship with local business is one of support. That’s what it means to be an incubator,” she says.

“We have a relationship with the local polytechnic and with the primary schools. Kids make a show called Pukeko Echo, it’s made by kids aged five to 13 from Manaia View School.

Graduate profile
“We are hoping to have a relationship with the high schools in the future.

“The polytechnic uses the station as training, and we employ some of the graduates of the courses.”

Chrissie Staples of Tararua TV says profiling positive people and events in the community is the lifeblood of local broadcasting. But when they have to go digital, the way they frame programs will have to change.

“Things will be less home grown,” she says

“We’ll have to have in the back of our minds, as our audience gets bigger, that programmes will have to be filmed in a way that everyone can enjoy.

“Filming the local swim meet won’t be that simple anymore,” she adds.

And as for the NZoA funding increase?

“What increase?” she laughs.

“It’s contestable,” she says “so we have to put more effort into our programming, because there’s that competition.

“We don’t know what we’re competing against,

“If we can get some money, that’s awesome,” she says.

Tena Baker of East Coast TV talks about the need to forge relationships with tertiary institutions, to have students work on the station.

Student slot
“Last year our team were talking about having a programme slot for students, where they could submit something and we’d put it up.

“We think it’d be really good to profile the work of the up and coming.

“So the public can see the quality of work that is going to be produced by our future film makers and producers.

Craig Henderson of Family TV North points out the attraction of being in the industry to many young New Zealanders, and the difficulties that come with trying to facilitate new talent.

“There’s a huge amount of interest in TV production, we’ve heard that even from your [university]. There’s not enough space to cater for that,” he says.

Jim Blackman agrees, saying: “I’m convinced that no regional channel would turn away the opportunity to work with tertiary institutions, because we co-exist.”

“We can provide outlets universities don’t provide.

“We’ve given airtime to Australian filmmakers for short films, because we can’t get that breakthrough here from our institutions,

“I’ve seen some magical work done by students, and it pains me to see wasted airspace and the look on the students face when you’ve seen the work, and you know damn well that the only people that are going to see it are their tutors and their family’s, and its going to end up in the bottom of a drawer and get lost… that’s sad,” he says.

Baker also points out the importance of meetings like last month’s Regional Television Broadcasters Association, held at AUT.

“I suppose now I’ve been here, we’re going to work on a relationship, because maybe it is about people’s perception about [us as], until we lift a profile.

Solid plan
“It’s about having a relationship with a bona fide institution that gives us some credibility in regards to the industry.

“It’s about building an industry locally for us,” she says.

Peters sees the success of this years meeting as solidifying a plan that every member can agree on.

“We need to stand together,” she says.

Daryl Anderson, CEO of Television Media Group, which broadcasts TV Central, sees the meeting as an opportunity to present a united front to the government.

“It’s good to know we share the same concerns,” he says.

Anderson also talks about the need to deal with local content.

“As the world gets smaller, people are going to need community,” he says.

“We have a role to play in the future to bring local content to people,” he adds.

Carol Peters is one to agree with this idea. Just four years ago, she delved into launching TV North, along with son Alex Mason and local businessman and video producer John Gwillim.

TV North started broadcasting last August.

“It’s hard starting with no experience,” says Peters.

High definition
One advantage of being so young in this industry is that TV North is already set up to transmit digitally. All programming is already filmed in high definition.

She says the government is being vague about the switch over point from analogue to digital.

“They say sometime in 2012-2015. That’s very soon.”

But a downside and major concern for Peters is the way funding from New Zealand on Air works. As a station, TV North doesn’t qualify for any funding, as they are too new.

“We’re cut out completely,” she says.

“This attitude does not stimulate new TV stations.

She asks, “Do they want other TV stations to begin?”

“If the government is serious about being involved in local TV, we need to act on it and talk,”

“We need to be working together, not like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” she says.

Blackman puts a challenge on the table.

“Regional TV has a strong future, it’s a decision for our government whether they want to be part of that future, and it’ll be fantastic to have them on board.”

Pictures (from top): Triangle/Stratos chief executive Jim Blackman, and Tina Baker of East Coast TV. Photos: Del Abcede.

Jessica Harkins is a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) student on the AUT Asia-Pacific Journalism course.

NZ on Air
Regional Broadcasting Association
Triangle/Stratos Television

Quiet Papuan 'father' takes on military with his pen

By Jessica Harkins: Pacific Media Centre

At first glance, Father Neles Tebay isn’t the kind of man you would think is under military surveillance. He’s a “father” after all.

He’s not a vigilante, militant or “terrorist”. He’s a theologian and a writer – a good one. In Indonesia, this warrants being watched, constantly.

He doesn’t write about violence or retribution. Nor does he advocate these things.

Like many of his ilk, he writes about dialogue. Something people in the West often take for granted that everyone has an opportunity to share.

When did Fr Tebay first know he was “of interest” to the Indonesian government?

“In 1986, the Indonesian military went to a public market to ask about me. They asked: ‘Where is Neles?’,” he recalls.

“They already knew where I stayed - at that time I was a student.

“They did it in order to frighten me, or terrorise me.”

Did it work?

“No”. He pauses. “No I think they failed in this.”

Important role
Fr Tebay’s mission, under military scrutiny or not, is to raise awareness in his own community, and around the world, about the struggle for autonomy in West Papua.

He has no qualms about saying what he means.

Maire Leadbeater, a spokesperson for the Auckland-based Indonesia Human Rights Committee (IHRC) and a tireless activist in her own right, who met Fr Tebay just this week, says: “He certainly doesn’t mince his words.”

“Fr Tebay is taken very seriously in his country. His role is important.”

Fr Tebay’s main concern in his homeland is the apparent failure of Law 21/2001. This is supposed to have granted Papua province special autonomy from the Indonesian state to oversee its own affairs.

Despite this law, there are proposals to divide West Papua into four smaller provinces, and in recent months the military presence in Papua has been increased visibly.

Fr Tebay has said the move to further split Papua will “only serve the needs of new bureaucrats and would do nothing to address the pressing problems of poverty, an inadequate education system, environmental destruction, poor health care and the spread of HIV/AIDS.”

He adds: “Militarisation is going on. More troops are being deployed in West Papua, more military security posts are established. There are three more battalions, around 700-1000 more troops.”

He criticises the actions of the military, calling them arrogant.

“They can hit anyone, anytime, anywhere, with or without reason,” he says.

“It’s enough to say ‘he is a separatist’ and…”

“That’s why the Papuans are traumatised when they see the military,” he says.

Peace, justice
Fr Tebay is in New Zealand to take part in public discussion about environmental sustainability, as well as the issues close to his heart of peace and justice in West Papua.

Kevin McBride of the international Catholic peace organisation Pax Christi, which is hosting Father Tebay, is disappointed in media exposure about the issue in New Zealand.

“It’s virtually nil, but it’s hidden deliberately by the Indonesian government,” he says.

McBride says foreign journalists are banned from entering the province for “security reasons” - but that doesn’t mean they don’t try.

Four Dutch journalists travelled to the Papuan capital of Jayapura to report on an independence protest this week. They were arrested and detained at a police station for more than 12 hours.

One of the journalists has been released and has returned to Jakarta, but the other three still have not had their passports returned and are not allowed to leave Papua until police investigations into their reporting of a major Papuan demonstration calling for independence are completed.

They are also not allowed to report until the investigation is over, police say.

McBride says that on the Wellington leg of Fr Tebay’s tour of New Zealand, they will pay a brief courtesy visit to the Indonesian Embassy.

A search of the New Zealand Herald website for articles on West Papua yielded only one incorrect reference to plans for transmigration of peoples into West Papua.

Transmigration, a scheme by the Indonesian government to relocate poor people from over-populated areas of Indonesia to West Papua, was implemented in the 1960s and has now ceased - although there is still spontaneous migration into the area, according to Fr Tebay.

Suspect opinions
“When you want to raise your opinion, usually you are suspected of being a separatist,” says Fr Tebay.

He adds that the stigma of being a separatist is a risk factor for the Papuans, especially with the stepped up military presence in the region.

Over the years, Fr Tebay has written opinion pieces for the Jakarta Post, as well as news articles for some of his local newspapers.

Now he questions the impact of his writing.

“There is no guarantee. No guarantee that my articles would be read by the right people.

“I just wrote hoping that somebody would read it, or hoping that government people would read it, and that perhaps it would change their policy,” he says.

Maire Leadbeater says New Zealand should be able to play a role in independence negotiations because of our own colonial history.

“Historical grievances need to be faced,” she says.

“That’s why I get upset with our government sometimes,”

“We should be at the forefront in the push for justice in historical crime,” she says.

“They are immense crimes against humanity,” she says of West Papua’s history with Indonesia.

Sony Ambudi, also of the IHRC and the Mt Eden Islamic Information Centre, describes Father Tebay as an academic researcher and not only a priest.

“Being a researcher is fundamental in giving strong evidence on every human rights violation,” he says.

“He is a man in the field, a real campaigner.”

Fact file

The Indonesian policy on West Papua since the end of World War Two has been focused on Papua being part of its claim over former Dutch Territories.

In 1962, the Netherlands brokered a deal with the Indonesian government and handed the territory over, with the promise that in five years time the people of West Papua would be given an act of self-determination overseen by the United Nations.

In 1969, Indonesia and the UN conducted a referendum called the Act of Free Choice, now widely criticised as a sham and labelled the “Act of No Choice”.

Less than 1 percent of the population voted under severe duress and violent threats. The unanimous result? Stay within Indonesia.

The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has waged a sporadic guerrilla struggle since the 1960s for independence.

Photo of Father Neles Tebay by Jessica Harkins. Jessica Harkins is a student journalist on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course at AUT University.

A Neles Tebay article
Jakarta Post