It is important for island countries of the South Pacific to establish a media code of ethics as well as a complaint mechanism, so that the media can regulate itself and improve its standards, regional journalists were told today.

Johnson Honimae, a former President of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA ) from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Commission, said the advantage of having a set code of ethics and complaint mechanism for Solomons is that the media self regulates itself instead of Government regulating them.

The facilitator at a workshop being held in Nuku...’alofa to draft a code of ethics and complaint mechanisms for small medium island countries like Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati who at the moment have none.

The Media Code of Ethics and Complaints Program for National Associations in the Pacific Islands was told that in order for media to be free there should be no legislation to restrict its power and freedom, therefore the media must restrict and control itself in order to keep a high standard and act as a profession that behaves in a certain way.

To broadcast on television, radio or print articles in mass media is a privilege, which means great responsibility, so members of the public who do not have that privilege can keep the media accountable with complaints mechanisms in place.

For countries that have no media council or complaints procedures the workshop will enable them to go home with a draft plan of how to put something together that is appropriate for their country.

A code of ethics is guidelines and principles, which describes what journalists and media should be doing. Complaints procedures on the other hand are the way an ordinary member of the public can complain to the media if they do not like something they read or see.

Solomon Islands

Johnson said that the Solomon Islands has a code of ethics but it had never been developed so they are trying to improve on that and form a complaint mechanism too.

"I am trustee of the Solomon Media Association and I am in a good position to go back home with the draft and say let's do this and put something together," he said.

Johnson said countries like PNG, Fiji, and Tonga had already got codes of ethics, Samoa was currently drafting theirs with the assistance of the Thompson Foundation of United Kingdom, and those that have no ethics in place included Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati.

"Hopefully at the end of this workshop we have a draft to go back with and try to fit in within our system with great hope that one day a regional code of ethics can be established under PINA, and each country can have some clauses put in there that applies to their country," said Johnson.

Regional journalists participating in the workshop are Lynn Narrahn from the Federal States of Micronesia FSM, Tipi Autagavaia from Samoa, Rutti Terubea from Kiribati, Pulafagu Toafa from Tuvalu, Moses Stevens from Vanuatu, Mark Hayes from the University of Queensland, Johnson Honimae and John Lamani from the Solomon Islands.