RESEARCH INFORMATION SERVICESEAST-WEST CENTER

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ommunIeatTonJewkttorPacific Islands News Association Suva, FijiSocial Sciences & Linguistics Institute

Honolulu, HawaiiEast-West Communication Institute Honolulu, Hawaii

March 1977 Vol. 7, No. 1

PNG JOURNALISM MUST DEFINE ROLEBy COLEMAN MONI

Port Moresby

Journalism can do a lot in anysociety, particularly during transi-tional periods. In Papua New Guineajournalism has been contributingtremendously toward national deve-lopment, unity, and a sense of selfreliance.

The profession, though, has yetto identify its status and place ina country where cultural differencesand language barriers are immense.Whether up and coming journalistswill merely follow the footsteps oftheir predecessors--mainly foreignreporters--or develop a true "Mela-nesian" concept is hard to say.

It was only in the last decadethat the profession has had a fewnationals enter it. Because of theneedy state of development andtransition, most now hold executivepositions in the public and privatemedia industry.

The popular opinion that thepress is nowhere near maturity isa clear indication of the presentstatus of journalism in Papua NewGuinea.

Perhaps reporters devote toomuch time and space on shallow re-porting of facts and information.However, one fact is obvious: signsof critical and investigative re-porting have yet to appear in themedia.

Bill Kuamin, interim presidentof PNG Press Club, adds: "We seemto report only on the surface ofthe issues, making the public be-lieve that the tip of an icebergis all that exists.

I couldn't agree more.

Blame for this must be direct-ed toward unsatisfactory traininggiven to young reporters.

The initial step for proper'training began in 1974 when 10cadets from the Government Officeof Information and the NBC spent ayear on basic journalism trainingin New Zealand under the New Zea-land Government Aid Program toPapua New Guinea.

Since then, a year-long diplo-ma program has been established atthe University of Papua New Guinea,with Ross Stevens (a Kiwi journal-ist) administering. Now over 30young cadets have taken up theprofession.

But why is the press so timidnow? Perhaps the press has "noguts' to fight for its rights andpurposes thus hampering the profes-sion from developing its characterand style.

Within press organizationsthere exist healthy relationshipsbetween media executives and theirreporters. The National Broadcast-ing Commission (NBC) on two in-stances threatened to ban presscoverage of student activities atthe University of Papua New Guinea,and also coverage of meetings ofthe Central Provincial Government.

(please turn to page 9)

'Spike' Canham on the Pacific PressBy FLOYD TAKEUCHI

Assistant Editor

Erwin Spike Canham, editoremeritus of the Christian ScienceMonitor, thinks more people shouldsee beauty in smaller packages. Hisphilosophy of life suits him wellin his new role as U.S. ResidentCommissioner to the Government ofthe Northern Mariana Islands.

people whom they cease to regard aspeople, and they sit at the type-writer and they write about entitieswhich are not human. I think it isall right to be reminded that youare talking about people.

(please turn to page 3)

WHAT'S INSIDEDuring a recent wide-ranging

interview held on Saipan, Canham, 73,spoke about his almost 50 years asa journalist for one of America'smost respected newspapers, and heshared these thoughts about therole and status of the press inMicronesia.

"I respect the fact that noth-ing is anonymous in a small commu-nity, he says. One of the dangersin metropolitan journalism is thatreporters write something about

Editor's Notes

2

Guam Cable-TV

S

New Radio Station6

PICN Forum

7

PEACESAT

8

Research Ethics

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__IndianJonExamines Third

r:'rF k'r

L JIM RICHSTADThis issue of PICN containstesting of television. How canthree thoughtful views on the role television programs be shown,'of the press in the Pacific Islands Smith asks, 'to an experimental--what it can do and should do in group in a society without televi-

the Pacific context. Two of the sion when it is possible that therearticles start on Page 1, by will be negative effects?" He thenColeman Moni in Port Moresby and proceeds to describe how the groupan interview with Erwin "Spike he is involved with answered thatCanham in Saipan. The third re- question. With the increasing sen-flective article (Page 7) is by sitivity in the Pacific toward re-Lasarusa Vusoniwailala, of Suva search of this nature the articlebut now at the East-West Center. is an important contribution toThe three articles indicate a high the discussion.concern and some uncertainty on

World' Press IssuesThe physical isolation of Pa-

cific Island journalists can some-times lead to what might be termed"professional isolation." PICNtries to meet this issue by offeringa variety of articles and reviewson the activities of journalists inother parts of the region.

Occasionally publications cometo the attention of PICN which mightbe of interest to readers. One suchpublication is Communicator, a pro-fessional journal put out by theIndian Institute of Mass Communica-tion.

what the role of the press in thePacific should be, and the essen-tial uniqueness of the Pacificscene. PICN is happy to providea forum for this kind of question-ing and testing of the PacificIslands press.

Another important debate iscarried on by Dan Smith of Majuroand John Bystrom, director ofPEACESAT in Honolulu, over theaccomplishments and future ofPEACESAT. Smith is urging a re-organization of the system and astrong move to operationalize it,as opposed to the demonstrationor experimental status it now has.Bystrom details the problems ofsuch an approach, and outlines hisown plans for PEACESAT development

Smith also contributes anotherarticle to this issue--on the ethi-cal considerations involved in the

Two new newspapers in Micro-nesia came to the attention ofPICN over the past quarter. TheCarolines Observer, published inYap and edited by Ben Ruan, andthe Marshall Islands Journal, edi-ted by Justin de Brum, have beenin operation since November oflast year.

The Observer is a bi-monthly,and it is published primarily inEnglish with some Yapese.

The Marshall Islands Journalthe only indigenous language paperin Micronesia, is published by theMicronitor News and Printing Com-pany, which also publishes theweekly Micronesian Independent

We hope to carry more detailedaccounts in the next issue of PICN.

Reorganized Fiji Press ClubNew Forum For Local Media

By USHASUNDAR held in Suva recently confirmed theSuva honeymoon was over for this new orga-

nization.The Fiji Press Club, the newly

founded forum for Fiji journalists,Club president Mr. Raymond Motiis exploring ways of improving train- said the club would take up issuesing facilities for local cadet jour- which were significant in bringingnalists. about a better deal for journalists

working conditions and training. TheThe club was formed last year at club would survey conditions and sal-

a meeting in Suva of journalists who aries of journalist and organizewanted to revive the press club which training seminars for reporters.became defunct in 1972. Mr. LenUsher, organizing director for the One of the major problems in thePacific Islands News Association and past had been the fragmentation offormer editor of Fiji Times, was made media in Fiji, the president noted inthe club's first patron.his annual report.

Edited by M.V. Desai, Communi-cator concentrates on the problemsof Third World journalists. Themajority of articles in each issuecover some of the problems facedby journalists in South Asia. Butthese problems are brought on by asimilar colonial heritage, and Pa-cific Island journalists operatingin a post-British press system willbe able to identify with most ofthe issues raised in the journal.

Some of the articles which ap-peared in a recent issue, for exam-ple, include, "Who is an Editor?","The Transnational Power Structureand International Information","From the Indian Perspective", and,"Studies of Information Media andCultural Institutions in USSR."

Subscriptions are ¬2 or US $5,by airmail. Checks or drafts shouldbe made out to the Indian Instituteof Mass Communication. The addressis: IIMC Press, D 13 NOSE Part II,New Delhi 110049, India.

PACIFIC ISLANDSCOMMUNICATION NEWSLETTER

PublisherSocial Sciencesand Linguistics Inst.Donald M. Topping, DirectorPorteus Hall, University of HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii 96822 USA

Editorial StaffEditor: Jim RiehstadAssistant Editor: Floyd Takeuchi

Address all correspondence to:The Editor, PICNEast.West Communication Inst.1777 East.West RoadHonolulu, Hawaii 96848 USA

The first annual general meeting (please turn to page 4)

courage essential,' says Canham(continuedfrom page 1)

Looking at the various newsmedia now operating in Micronesia,Canhani cites the Guam-based PacificDaily. News as being an excellentpaper within its limitations.

The paper, part of the Ameri-can Gannett newspaper chain, has "alively editor who writes a readablecolumn and writes excellent edito-rials which are related to theareaY

He adds, though, that "Iwouldn't say that the reader gets a

very adequate picture of the world,but I think it is pretty good asnewspapers go in terms of regionalcoverage and general information.

Media areas needing consider-able improvement in Canham's opin-ion are radio and television newscoverage. But with two televisionsystems presently operating onSaipan (a cable as well as a directbroadcasting system), and soonthree radio stations for an islandof 14,000 people, Canham believesthat the pressure of competitionwill raise the professional levelof news broadcasting.

The difficulties of small is-land press operations --- the lackof advertising revenue and subscri-bers to name but two --- are quiteapparent to the former editor. Inaddition, the problem of extendedfamilies in small communities in-creases the pressure on a crusad-ing editor in the Pacific.

got to be able to publish nextweek."

A wise editor, according toCanham, might feel that while so-and-so may be a rascal in the admin-istration of a certain fund, he isnice to his children and his grand-mother and his auntie.

He is hopeful about the develop-ment of a Pacific Islands press, andnotes that "some of the most pros-perous newspapers in the UnitedStates are small newspapers, includ-ing weekly newspapers.

confrontation on some issues. Thelate Kansas editor William AllenWhite, a long-time friend of Can-ham's, provides a particularlyvivid example.

"William Allen White was not a-bove criticizing things in the com-munity," he says. "His classicinitial editorial was, "What's WrongWith Kansas?" which was laying iton the line.

"He came to be respected, andhe could write pretty bluntly, buthe was a loveable person. He lovedthe community, and he loved thepeople, even when they were rascals.But he was pretty blunt.

"He was more blunt about peoplenot in Kansas than people in Kansas,"Canham says, however.

Canham looks with optimism to' the future, primarily because he be-

. lieves that people have within them-selves the capacity to adapt andcarry on the best from their mdi-.'idual cultures.

In the case of television, for10 example, Canham says, "1 don't think

7 TV is going to greatly change manyattitudes.., attitudes toward workand all. I think that there are

4. ' things more profound than entertain-ment media, and elements of thatsort. I see around me quite a lot

t . of things surviving, things being- _.'_.-. . adapted."

Erwin Can/jam, editor emeritus oftheChristian Science Monitor (photo by

the Honolulu Advertiser)

The qualities of these papers,Canham adds, are characterized by"hard work thnv have to know how to

do their job, they have to have theCiting examples of successful skills and the right balance be-

small-town newspapers in the Unitedtween ruthless investigative crusad-States, Canham says, "it is not im-ing, and a kind of constructivepossible to go quite a long way with community support. I don't thinkcrusading journalism, and still re-this compromise needs to be morallytam the respect of the

community.,,

inacceptable."But it calls for enormous courage." Smaller newspapers are not the

The American tradition of horse only ones that feel these pressures,whipping the local editor, Canham says Canham.notes with a smile, "apparently hadconsiderable prevalence."

Often times the editor of asmall newspaper has to make harddecisions about what to publish,and what not to publish. Canhamsays that in such situations, itwould serve an editor well to re-member the old proverb, "The bestis the enemy of the good."

Perhaps, Canham says, "thetranslation of that is that theextreme position is the enemy ofthe effective position. And ifyou want to get results, you've

"Once a reporter of ours wasgoing to cover a coal strike in aPennsylvania community," he recounts."It was a big strike, it was nationalnews. And he went to the town, afairly substantial city of ]50,000people, and he called on the editorand he said, 'What have you beendoing about the skrikeV

"And the editor said, "Oh no, Ican't touch that, it's too hot tohandle.

Even famous journalists are notimmune from wanting to avoid direct

There is in his approach tojournalism, as well as in his newadministrative duties, a surprisingdegree of humility and humbleness.One would normally expect a man ofCanham's stature to be content tosit back and reap the rewards of hisprofessional success.

He has known most of the worldleaders in politics and the arts forthe past 50 years. Canhams profes-sional career has covered most ofthe major events of the last half-century.

After receiving a Rhodes Schol-arship to study at Oxford, Canhamjoined the Boston-based ChristianScience Monitor in 1925 and quicklymoved through the ranks.

From 1926 until 1928, he cov-ered the League of Nations, and from1930 to 1932 served as the Monitor'sGeneva correspondent. In 1932, hewas reassigned to be bureau chief ofthe Monitor's Washington office.From 1939 to 1941 he was the paper'sgeneral news editor, after which hewas made managing editor. Canhani

(please turn to page 5)

Jefferson Fellows

Kiwi, Fijian Discuss Hawaii ExperiencesBy IANGILLHonolulu

Illusions were broken for twoPacific journalists, in Honolulu, Ha-waii, as Jefferson Fellows at theEast West Center's Communication In-stitute.

New Zealand, people putter around inDatsuns and 1100's but here universi-ty students and even high school stu-dents go around in fabulous cars likeMustangs, he said.

Kingston was also impressed bythe warmth of people, particularlycampus.

On the one hand, Adishwar Spike"Padarath, the first Fijian to be a-warded a Jefferson Fellowship, wassurprised at the lack of evidence ofIsland culture and tradition. On theother hand, Peter Kingston, the sec-ond New Zealander to be given a Jef-ferson award, was amazed at theState's material progress as mani-fested by the profusion of luxurycars.

Padarath, 34, chief reporter ofthe fUi Sun, said he had expectedmore distinction between ethnicgroups and particularly a strongerrepresentation of Hawaiian culture.

In Fiji, the main ethnic groups- Fijians, Indians and Chinese, forinstance - have distinct culturaltraditions," he said.

"Language is a cause of this asFijian, Hindi and English are themain languages. In Hawaii that's noproblem as practically everyonespeaks English. But there is a muchheavier emphasis on Oriental culturethan I had expected and not enoughevidence of Hawaiian culture exceptfor the obvious tourist attractions.

Another aspect which surprisedPadarath, who is studying the pro-blems confronting journalists in amulti-racial society, was the lackof blacks at the East West Center.

"The center represents culturalexchange between East and West and Ifor one would like to meet a cross-section of the West. But I'm not

meeting any black Americans, onlywhites."

New Zealand used to be dubbedthe "motor museum of the world" be-cause of the number of ancient carson its roads and for Kingston, 32,an assistant editor with Radio NewZealand, the biggest eye-opener inHawaii was the great number of"dreamy' cars.

"When I learned I was coming toHawaii, I started watching TV movieslike "Hawaii Five-O' for the sceneryand landmarks and I thought the carswere lent by companies like Ford. In

4

conducted among television viewersin Michigan showed this. A lot ofviewers said they wanted more docu-mentaries and in-depth current af-fairs programs. So lots of TV sta-tions around the Mid-West went togreat expense to produce these butwhen they were screened the audienceratings dropped Perhaps it wasfashionable for people to say theywanted documentaries but when itcame to the crunch, they didn't."

onKingston was not impressed bythe radio stations in Hawaii. "Thereare about 30 stations here and some

"People open converstions withof them I believe are just used asyou and offer friendship without being tax losses for stations based onintroduced. Now I try and act as hostthe U.S. Mainland," he said.to strangers on campus as a result,"he said.

For Padarath, the Jefferson Fel-lowship is his fourth major scholar-ship. In 1963-65, he studied elec-trical engineering at the Universityof New South Wales on an AustralianCommonwealth Scholarship. In 1967,while working as a social welfare of-ficer for the Fiji government, he wassent to Britain where he studied soci-ology at the London School of Econo-mics for six months.

In 1970, Padarath joined theFiji Times as a reporter and twoyears later became the first Paci-fic Islander to win a CommonwealthPress Union Fellowship and spent41/2 months in Britain studying ad-vanced journalism. On the way tothe UK, he was given a U.S. StateDepartment exchange students grantand spent two weeks with theSan Francisco Chronicle the NapaRegister the Michigan Free Press,and the New York Times. ThTJ975,Padarath joined the Fiji Sun andwas appointed its chief reporterlast year.

Kingston joined the then NewZealand Broadcasting Corporation11 years ago while he was in hisfinal year at Victoria University,where he graduated with a BA inpolitical science. He is theyoungest of five rotating assis-tant editors on Radio New Zealand'stop news and current affairs pro-gram, "Report", which is producedfour times daily.

Kingston's main project at theEast West Center is to prepare aformat for finding out what kindsof radio news and information pro-grams the public wants.

"The problem isn't helped bythe fact that sometimes the publicdoesn't really know what it wants,"he said.

"An audience research project

"The public is being short-changed because the serious sta-tions that want to establish localidentity are hampered because thereis only a certain number of adver-tising dollars to go around and whenthere are 30 stations, it's peanutsfor everyone. It's free enterprisegone mad."

Nor is Kingston particularlyimpressed with the standard ofbroadcasting on some stations.

"On some stations, the news pro-grams are repetitive, boring andtechnically not up to broadcast stan-dards. Many of the actuality drop-ins I've heard would not have beenallowed on the air back home."

The Jefferson Fellowships areconducted annually by the Communi-cation Institute, for mid-careerjournalists from Asia, the Pacificand the United States. For more in-formation on the program, write tothe Jefferson Fellows Coordinator,Communication Institute, East-WestCenter, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822,U.S.A. Deadline for 1978 applica-tion is August 1, 1977.

Fiji Press ClubHas 'Watchdog' Role

(continuedfrom page 2)

"This often made us the targetsof ambitious politicians and publicfigures who used us as scapegoats tofurther their own ends," Mr. Motisaid. "The club watchdog committeecan be an effective means for defend-ing journalists from such scurrilousattacks."

Guest speakers who have addressedclub luncheons include Carey Grant,life member of Guam Press club; SirVijay R. Singh, Speaker of Fiji'sHouse of Representatives; JamesWilworth, Jim magazine correspondent,and Brian Talboys, New Zealand's Dep-uty Prime Minister.

RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

READERS ESSENTIAL FOR VIGOROUS

JOURNALISM, SAYS ERWiN CANHAM

(continuedfrom page 3)served in that position until 1945,when he was made editor of the Moni-tor. In 1964, he was appointedT-tor-in-chief and directed the news-paper until his retirement in 1975.

Considered to be one of theforemost American editors, Canhamhas received many international hon-ors including the Order of the Brit-ish Empire and the French Legion ofHonor, among others.

In trying to understand 'Spike'Canham, now living on a small Pacificisland far removed from the excite-ment of Washington and Boston he wasaccustomed to, one has to listen

carefully to what he says.

An indication of his approachto life can be found in a comment

he makes about one of his policiesas a newspaper editor. In a quietvoice, and with carefully chosen

words, Canham says:

"I had a precept which I usedto tell reporters on our staff ---

don't write anything about anybodywhich you wouldn't be willing to

say to his face. This puts what onewrites into terms that don't destroythe other person's self-respect. Ofcourse, all of us sometimes saythings to peoples faces that getpretty intemperate. But generallyspeaking, you can maintain a levelof civil discourse which, I think,

helps a great deal to preserve the

possibility of vigorous journalism."

NEW CHILDREN'S MAGAZINE

PUBLISHED BY THE FIJI FIRM

LOTU PASIFIKA PUBLICATIONS

The Fiji publishing firm Lotu

Pasifika Publications will beginpublishing The Pacific IslandsChildren's Magazine regularly. A

pilot issue came out a few months

ago. PIM reports that about 35,000

copies of the magazine will be

printed for Pacific-wide distribu-tion.

Lotu Pasifika Publications,

which is owned by the Pacific Con-ference of Churches, has broughton lova S. Geita of Papua New

Guinea to be editor of the firm.

According to PIN, Lotu PasifikaPublications publisher Aisake

Raratabu recently returned fromthe Oxford Polytechnic in Englandwhere he attended a short publish-ing course.

Guam Cable-TV Recovering FromSuper Typhoon, Outlook Bright

By FLOYD TAKEUCIJIAssistantEditor

Seven months after Super Ty-phoon Pamela roared over Guam, GuamCable-TVs operations are back toabout 85% of what they were in pre-Pamela days.

"We expect to be back to ourformer level of operation in threeto six months," says Tom Brislin,

manager of cablecasting.

In an interview in Honolulu,Brislin predicted that coverage ofthe entire island will be completeby December 1978. At that time,17,000 homes are expected to beserved by Guam Cable-TV. The tele-vision operation is now serving11,000 residences.

"The typhoon was probably goodfor Guam Cable," Brislin says. 'Wehad many illegal connections, andPamela allowed auditors to put tapson our new lines.' The taps preventpeople from hooking up to the cable.All television cables were torndown by the typhoons 200-plus-mile-per-hour winds.

With a large military popula-tion on the island, a "nestingground" for electronics experts,Brislin says it is difficult to pre-vent people from hooking up to acable. This problem is especiallyacute in apartment buildings,reports Brislin. Other mass mediafacilities on Guam include two directbroadcast television stations, KUAMradio, and the Pacific Daily News.

The American military services alsomaintain their own radio and pub-lishing efforts.

Other changes, unrelated to

Pamela, have also been taking placeat the cable station. Stephen Kelly,former Pacific Daily News reporter,joined the station as news managerin February.

The one-hour local news pro-gram now includes 5 minutes of sec-

ondary school news, produced andread by high school students them-selves.

"This is one way of gettingstudents interested in news,"

Brislin says, and he reports that

the show is popular. Students aregiven a video tape recorder and areallowed to film news stories "onthe street."

In addition to local news, a

weekly consumer information programis aired as is a daily stock market

report and analysis. The Aganastudio, Brislin reports, is keptquite busy filming local televisioncommercials, too.

Discussing some of Guam Cable'sparticular problems, Brislin notesisolation from video tape supplierson the U.S. mainland can make lifeparticularly difficult. "Sometimes,"he says, "I have to get up at 2 or 3in the morning to make a call toCalifornia to find out where our

tapes are." Having to order enter-tainment tapes so far in advance alsocauses problems when shows are unex-

pectedly changed or dropped all to-

gether. "We have some communicationproblems," he admits.

Another difficulty is the lack

of street names and house numbers

outside of the greater Agana area.

"People on Guam seem to have a

particularly difficult time with

maps," Brislin says, "and we have to

rely on maps to send our installers.'

Guam Cable's Saipan affiliate,Micronesian Cable-TV, seems to havebeat the problem by placing numberson all telephone poles. When peoplewant cable service, Brislin says,they simply tell the station thenumber of the telephone pole theylive near.

The highly intense politicalsituation on Guam has not posed anyunusual problems for Guam Cable. "Wehave not experienced any politicalinterference," he says, "and we havea good rapport with just about every-body."

There is some criticism fromthe political sector, and Brislinsays that charges of a 'negativeattitude" on the part of the pro sare sometimes true. But Brislinfeels that many of these complaintsare due to a lack of understandingof the new role of journalism.

"The old image of a reporterwith a fifth in his back pocket is

(please turn to page 9)5

KUS1, New Micronesian Station,Broadcasting For latest Dttict

By ELL4S fJi1AyMiero,zesüri BrcoJcaathg &-c'ice

SAIPAN--Radio KUSI joined thesix other Trust Territory broadcast-ing stations in January when theisland of Kosrae became the seventhadministrative district of the Amer-ican-administered territory. Theisland of some 4,000 people was for-merly known as Kusaie.

-S

A!1

Ue- s Ac: Saion -lanegerunfl the posticn r. ba i (iedpermanently. ddtonai personnelaersonnelmay be hired b KOSrCC District.

KUSI operates fron. 10 a.m. to10 p.m. Monday through Saturday,and from noon to 10 p .w. on Sunday.This schedule will continue untiladditional staff are hired andtrained for regular on-the-airshifts. The training of KUSI staffwill be an important role for theTrust Territory Headquarters Broad-cast Division staff.

Programming material includes'locally recorded Kosraean music, aswell as music from other parts ofMicronesia. U.S. Armed Forces Ra-dio Service recorded programs,United Nations-supplied shows, andradio programs prepared by the T.T.Broadcast Division are also aired.

The isolation of the new dis-trict is one of the largest prob-lems facing the new broadcast sta-tion. Located 550 kilometers fromthe island of c-naOeA Kosrac has noairfield and is serviced only byfield-trip SflIP from either Ponapeor Majuro in the Marshall islands.

Broadcast Technician Jesse Bunk, standing, An effort to schecu1a bi -weeklyand a Kosraean test operator at KUSI(photo ship visits is being considered byby EliasThomasJ the Trust Territory government.

Presently, the island receives aThe 1,000-watt AM radio station ship either once or twice a month,

is located on the smaller island of at best.Leleu, where the administrative cen-ter of the new district has beenestablished. The location is con-sidered temporary by Trust Territorybroadcasting officials,it is

hoped that a larger f; ty will beprovided soon. The sent stationis 330 square feet. and includes acontrol studio, transmitter roomand office space.

KUSI is assigned a frequencyof 1,500 kilocycles. It currentlyuses a 150-foot long wire suspendedbetween two 90-foot telephone polesfor an antenna. Purchase of atower antenna is anticipated.

Two broadcast officers fromWSZD radio on Ponape District,under which Kosrae was formerly ad-ministered, have been brought into run KUSI. Ernie Aliksa and KenOlter were both news reporters be-fore their transfer. Aliksa cov-ered Kusaiean news and Olter wasattached to the Ponape TranslationService.6

A

i

Radio has become a common partof homes in Micronesia. People donot seem to be at ease unless re-ceivers are playing the latestmusic or broadcasting a public ser-vice announcement. This is espe-cially true of the outer islands

radio is the most common formo- mass media entertainment. Itwas therefore a must that Kosraeshould have its own broadcaststation.

Writer's WorkshopTo Be Held SoonIn Papua New Guinea

From Action January 1977

A two-week writer's workshop isplanned for May 1977 by the Toksavena Buk Dipatmen (Information andPublishing Department) of the UnitedChurch of Papua New Guinea.

The workshop will focus on writ-ig materials for girls 10-17 yearsold. Dr. Marion Van Home of Inter-media, New York City, will conductthe workshop, which is being plannedby Josie Runes, director of the de-partment.

A consultation will be held theweek before the workshop to discussthe literature needed by young girls.

For details and further informa-tion write to Miss Josie Runes, P0Box 90, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

ik LS! COAAIAOI studio. tndioette equipment shown was later replaced with Yard1console. Also shown are an AmpexAG600B tape recorder and two 16 inch Gatesturntables. (photo by Elias Thomas, Micronesian Broadcasting Service)

PICN FORUM...Perspectives on Pacific Islands Communication

By LASAR USA VUSONIWAILALAHonolulu

Professor Daniel Lerner helda seminar on the shaping of tran-sitional societies" in Februaryat the East-West CommunicationInstitute. Lerner said that bothRostows five stages of economicgrowth and Lerners own paradigmof modernization through urbaniza-tion and literacy were too simpleto account for trends in the deve-

loping countries during the past15 years. Lerner pointed out thepreponderance toward military rulein some developing countries and

analysed this as the result ofglobal communication, exposure toforeign stimuli eliciting univer-sal responses, the psychic mobil-ity first raised in his book ThePassing of Traditional Societygiving rise to aspirations which,if unfulfilled, accumulate intofrustrations or regression.

One may therefore look at

military takeovers in developingcountries as a form of controlWhether this resort is moral isanother matter. While the PacificIsland nations have, as yet, toreach the third developmentalstage, there are signs that thefirst two petals exist in most so-cieties. If and when the flowerswill ever bloom depends on thesocio-economic climate of eachisland polity. Lerners wordsechoed to my mind the frustrationsof a restless high-school graduateI met at home in Fiji last year:a budding young artist, barely 20,who wanted to be nothing else buta cartoonist, in a community whose

newspapers were not ready for his

particular brand of journalism.

Over beers, I tried to ex-

plain to him that perhaps the edi-tor or publisher thought cartoonsfor the local dailies to be prema-ture, that they would sail abovethe heads of the local readers.

'But Time and Newsweek have

great cartoons, and they're readhere."

"Exactly, my friend, you'd behappier today if you had not heardany outside information or readany foreign news. As they say,ignorance is bliss."

"It's all right for you edu-cated elites. You travel here andthere and then advise us to controlour wants," was his sharp retort.

"I won't disagree with yoursentiment, but honestly, many ofus curse education. The more youlearn the more you realize yourignorance; the more the size of

problem is seen, the more helplessone becomes. Some of us wish wewere still in the peaceful stateof innocence. Know something andthe seed of discontent is sown.That is why the politically stablesocieties are either those with alow level, or, conversely, the

highest level of education.

My friend was quiet for a mo-ment, appearing confused, "You saythen that education is disruptiveof society?" I admitted my inabili-

ty to answer his question with anyconfidence, and added that initial-

ly, like all early stages of growth,there are traumas and adolescent

pains. "It can become a destabiliz-er if social aspirations are lifted

beyond the realism of a nation's

economic capacity to satisfywants." And to illustrate my

point, I drew reference to ourPacific Islands, "We have beeneducated to expect employmentand occupations that will bringus status, where job stratifi-

cation indicates the measuresof individual success. Fur-thermore, and as a colonial

hangover, a person is eval-

uated by his ability to speaka foreign language." "I see,"

my cartoon friend obliged in a

bored manner, "that is why we

went to school?"

"Yes, to acquire knowledge,and also as means of whitewashing."

"Meaning?"

"See it this way. WithEuropean contact we coveted themore efficient technology of West-ern civilization and without know-ing aspired after its culture.Awed by white technology we reveredits people, and true to our empiri-cal logic we held their God andculture supreme. We still do today--and classroom schooling is oneway we thought we can achievewhitewashing."

"But I don't want to be any-thing other than myself, and to bea cartoonist.'

"And how did you become that?

Through education, my friend. Youhave been exposed to outside stim-uli to which your great-grandfatherwas not subjected. These haveelicited an otherwise latency in

you. But, unfortunately my friend,the society in which you live isnot yet ready for what globalcommunication has surfaced outof you."

"You mean, this place toosmall for me?"

"It means that you may have

to learn to live in your social

time. Anyway, not to worry, some

people are destined for a life of

frustrations by living ahead of

their time. And yet the historyof human progress is marked by justsuch individuals."

My aspiring cartoonist said hewas not sure whether to laugh or

cry. "Are you a Christian?" I asked."Jesus lived ahead of his time.Some Romans saw him as a rebel, aradical, and others laughed at hisidealism. His philosophy was so

revolutionary at the time they hadto kill him."

"But didn't he rise again?"

"Right on, brother. Truetalent is divine. It never dies.It only undergoes transformation,into new forms, the buds to bewatered by those who follow, toblossom into full bloom at a latertime when it is appreciated."

"Friend," my aspiring car-toonist lifted his glass with shinyeyes, "whatever that means, here'sto Christ."

"Cheers!"

example, much of the important me-By DANIEL C. SMITH search on data packet communication

Majuro has and is being done at UH in the]Electrical Engineering Department.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin adiAny new and more useful teleconimu-tonal reprinted in PICN (Dec. 19Th) nications system in the Pacificgives what I feel is undeservedmust have a Jerçe dipital capacity,praise fur PLCt.UA1 ort in re- eeoc (or a iot of w:vot would becent years,fordata packots,

PEACESAT as itis presently organized lacks tho

Before I 000tiflOS I \flSfltC ability to do the engineering, eco-say that these comments are offerednomic and legal-political analysesin the spirit at constructive crit-icismrequired

to bring low-cost comniuni-icism necessary for research anddevelopment work. This is not at cations systems to Oceania.

all a personal attack on JohnBystrorn or other individuals.

PEACESAT was a remarkableachievement five years ago. It isnot now newsworthy simply becauseit has failed to grow and activelyfoster improved communication andtelecommunication in Oceania.

The Communication Institutemight, for example, be able to orga-nize the interdisciplinary groupnecessary to plan and promote a newsystem. The lack of a strong inter-disciplinary research group is ex-actly the reason PEACESAT has beenunable to land Federal money. The

PEACESAT EXCHANGE

Contrary to the implication ofthe editorial, the ATS-l satelliteused by PEACESAT was not about tobecome space junk in 1969. It wasactively used by researchers allover the one-third of the world inits footprint. It is true, how-ever, that PEACESAT had a muchlarger fraction of the availabletime in the early days.

In many cases users of ATS-lhave gone from experimental pro-jects to operational ones on othersatellites. For example, in rough-ly the same time frame as thePEACESAT organization remote vil-lages in Alaska have gone from ex-perimental use of the same ATS-lspacecraft to ongoing use of acommercial satellite for medicaland other communications. (Norhas Alaska neglected humanistic orscientific exchanges of the sortthat PEACESAT is famous for.)

Alaska is using ground sta-tions in the $50,000 class for the

present system. The scattered is-lands and nations of the Pacificcould soon be using high-capacityground stations in the $10,000class if those in Hawaii interestedin communication could get togetherinstead of operating as little is-lands in Honolulu. The groups Ihave in mind are PEACESAT, theElectrical Engineering Departmentat University of Hawaii, and theEast-West Communication Institute.Each has much to contribute. For

8

fate of the National Library ofMedicine funding for telecommunica-tions experiments in Micronesia isproof of my point.

If you people in Hawaii wantto help improve telecommunicationsfor the small islands of the Pacif-ic, get your act together and starttalking to each other. Help us getthe services we need at reasonableprices. We need a group with enoughclout to produce a total reform oftelecommunications for the thinroutes of the Pacific and not justa little tinkering.

question: Why hasn't the PEACESATExperiment resulted in a regularservice for the Trust Territory.

PiNt. the background.PEACESAT is an international pro-- act in towav communication.

s in a Uozn rations arecoritro rn nod nipported locally.It is en oxOermcet not a service.No U.S. federal funds have beenused for equipment or operations.It is backed by an internationalconsortium that includes the TrustTerritory and Hawaii. Second, theaffairs of the U.S. Pacific areheavily influenced by Federal gov-ernment policy-makers and therecan be no communication develop-ment without their concurrence.Third, the PEACESAT system is de-signed to serve small populations,widely scattered as in the TTPI.It is agreed that this is the onlyway that small islands of the Pa-cific will obtain first-classcommunications.

Finally, it is unlikely thatthe internal traffic of the U.S.Pacific is sufficient to support asatellite system without outsidehelp despite the low cost of smallterminals. We have proposed anextended experiment in which thesatellite coverage area would ex-tend from Hawaii to Tehran (145°Wto 55°E). This would lower perunit costs by increasing partici-pation in the system. The U.S.Pacific would need only to sharein the cost of such a system. Asexperimental traffic developed,investment capital could becomeinterested and a future profitableservice developed.

The PEACESAT system has notbecome a service for many reasons.A far longer period of experimenta-tion is needed. The State of Alas-

______kasmove to a regular service is1evidence of the social utility and

ByJOHN BYSTROM feasibility of the small-terminalDirector, FEACESAT system. Unfortunately for the U.S.

Pacific, the area is not served bythank the editors for thea new commercial domestic satellite

opportunity to respond to Daniel C. company and is not a single govern-Smiths letter. It allows a look ment jurisdiction as is Alaska.at internal communications in the Alaska has a boom economy, with itsU.S. Pacific and improved develop- land claim victories and new pipe-mental communications throughout lines and with it the resources forthe world. I am very grateful to communication development.the writer of the Star-Bulletineditorial but will leave to himthe very difficult task of de-fense.

Mr. Smith emphasized computerinterconnection and he comes withhigh credentials. At Stanford Uni-versity, he proposed a plan to con-nect Pacific Islands to computerstored research materials at Stan-ford. His letter asks the basic

It is fair to say that U.S.policies have not encouraged deve-lopment in the U.S. Pacific. TheDepartment of Interior has deniedin planning for future communica-tions in the U.S. Pacific, althoughit has special responsibilities forthe TTPI, American Samoa and Guam.The Department of State has de-clared that U.S. policy limits sat-

(please turn to page 9)

'VARIETY' KEY TO TV SUCCESS"I don't think Guam can supporta 24-hour news station," he says,

(conriiiued from page "but it can support a radio stationnot applicable anymore, he says, which has better news more often.'The contemporary journalist attempts He believes a "tightly editedto write scholarly criticism of so- weekly" in a magazine format mightcial issues, and sometimes politi-do well, although prohibitive print-clans don't understand this."ing costs would be the primary ob-

stacle.One of the reasons Brislin feels

confident about the future is thatGuam Cable-TV, in his words, is of-fering a great deal of variety inits programming.

Perhaps the most interestingexample of Guam Cable-TV's "variety"is a show originally aired on Chinese-National TV on Taiwan.

"The Ten Commandments of Shao-Lin," brought in for Guam's Chinesepopulation, is quite popular. WithGuam Cable supplying the video cas-TomBrislin(1),JimRichstad(r)inHOnOlulU sette and paying for the air freight,

Looking at the news media scene the kung-fu series is bringing aon Guam, Brislin does not think that little of Asia to the Pacific. AndGuam Cable-TV or the Pacific Daily knowing the past popularity of simi-News face any serious difficulties lar martial arts movies, the seriesin The immediate future. He sees is probably bringing more than justroom for more vigorous radio journa- a little smile to the management oflism. Guam Cable-TV.

Journalism in PNG in Transitional Phase(continued from page 1)

These followed the stoning ofan NBC female journalist duringstudent riots last year. The otheroccurred when the Interim Premierof the Central Provincial Govern-ment barred reporters and photog-raphers from his Government's firstmeeting.

Pressures on reporters to notdo their jobs are great. Last Jan-uary a photographer with the IslandTrader in Rabaul was told by apolice officer not to take picturesof two vehicles involved in a head-on collision. Apparently one ofthe vehicles was owned by thepolice force. When the photogra-pher questioned the officer con-cerned, he was told something wouldhappen if he took pictures of theaccident.

The incident prompted a policeinvestigation into the officer'salleged statement reported in thepress the following day. The inci-dent was also discussed at a recentmeeting of the Rabaul Town Council.

Kuamin says the day-to-dayoperation of pressmen is often sub-jected to unwarranted difficultiesstemming from ignorance, suspicionand undue secrecy on the part ofsome influential members in Govern-ment as well as the private sector.

As an indication of the grow-

ing professional awareness amongPNG journalists, a press club hasbeen formed to establish a commonidentity and professionalism in thefield, because it is the collectiveefforts to better the image andquality of the profession thatcounts (see December 1976 PICN).

COLEMAN MONI

As a jouro colleague pointedout, "We've got a long way to go."Perhaps this is the common feelingamong pressmen in this country.

Pressmen owe it to the generalpublic and to themselves to atleast make an attempt to reformand be aware of the realities. Noone else will do it.

Peacesat Forum

Details Issues

Of Satellite System(continue ?from page 8)

ell ite experiments to one year, andcommercial development is to be en-couraged.

I think it is unfair to assignresponsibility for the inadequaciesof communication in the U.S. Pacificto the PEACESAT project. The $4200PEACESAT terminal at Saipan, whichwas established through the initia-tive of George Callison and EliasThomas, proved its worth by contin-uing operations after Typhoon Pamelaknocked out commercial communica-tions in the Western Pacific.

Mr. Smith suggests that plan-ning be placed in the hands of aninterdisciplinary group managedby the East-West Center's Communi-cation Institute.

For myself, I think it unwiseto separate communication planningfrom the direct experience of ac-tual users or from political au-thorities who must live with theconsequences of any new system.For this reason we have suggesteda new mission-oriented organiza-tion made up of indigenous peoplesand organizations based in thecommunities to be served.

Such a policy-making organi-zation made up of developmentbodies in TIPI, American Samoa,Guam and Hawaii and including re-presentatives from key Federalagencies (and possible foreignentities) would contract for ex-pert services that might well in-volve the East-West Center. Itis essential that the ingredientsof technology, economics, social'needs, national and internationalrequirements, and telecommunica-tions policy are considered asparts of a whole and in relationto the total geographic region.

One last comment on computers,the system has been used for com-puter science seminars and techni-cal experiments involving princi-pally Hawaii and New Zealand. Thefirst step is to establish tele-communication capability withwhich to link computer terminals.Local institutions may then deter-mine if they wish to participate.

The question of ethics and aca-demic research is always a difficultone to approach. It ismade evenmore difficult when human beings arethe subjects ofexperiments. Overthe past two years, a communicationresearch team from the University ofCalifornia at San Francisco has beeninvolved in a telerisio,: effe'ts study inin the Marshall Islands (see February1975 PIcN). It was reported thatone aspect ofthe study involved

showing a group ofyoungsters"violent"programs, and then assess-ing the effects ofthe televisionfare. PICNcontacteda member ofthe team who lives in California andasked about the ethicalaspectsofthe Marshals television study. Dr.Randall Harrison sent us ashortresponse, and Daniel Smith, a memberof the team living on Majuro, wrotea more detailed answer. FICN carriesSmith's response below. The Editors

A Question of Research EthicsBy DANIEL C. SMITH consider. The researchers have made

Majuro and will make themselves availableto explain the research to legisla-tive committees, etc. It is ililpor-

One of the important issuestant to note that in our research

concerning television research inpositive as well as negative conse-

areas without TV is the ethical one. quences are being investigated.Here is how it was handled in the Thus there may be some guidance asMarshalls by a group (including the to what to do and not just what not

author) whose principal investigator to do in the way of TV content.is Paul Ekman of the University ofCalifornia at San Francisco. TheThirdly, any effects are likely

experimental phase of this research to be small. However, there will behas not been carried out in the continual monitoring of the researchMarshalls because other sites and with a commitment to terminate it if

inflation wiped out most of the bud- large negative effects are observed.net before a satisfactory site wasavailable in the Marshalls. The

survey and pretesting phases are

being continued on a small scale.

To restate the issue: How cantelevision programs be shown to an

experimental group in a societywithout television when it is pos-sible that there will be negativeeffects? We adopted the followingconditions to minimize negativeconsequences.

Firstly, the experiments wereconsidered for a society whichthrough its established institu-tions had approved the introductionof standard American televisionfare. A license had already beenissued to a cable company in thecase of the Marshalls.

Secondly, there existed themechanism for a program advisoryboard that could consider the re-sults of the research. In factthe results will be readily avail-able for leaders and the public to

Fourthly, the researchers arepledged to conduct or have conductedany appropriate follow-up necessaryto eliminate harmful consequencesof the experiments.

Fifthly, informed consent ofthe subjects and/or the parents ofguardians of the subjects has beenobtained. In the Marshalls, theschool officials' judgments in thesematters are followed by the parents.(The school is considered the guard-ian in these matters.) Approval hasbeen obtained from the appropriatelegislative and executive bodies.

In my own mind I would havelittle difficulty doing research onsocial learning from television insocieties considering but not com-mitted to the introduction of TVprovided that the other conditionswere met. It would be very appro-priate for a country consideringthe introduction of TV to conductexperiments before a decision ismade to go ahead.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Honolulu Magazine ownership Hill Press of Ft. Atkinson, Wiscon-changed hands in February when the sin.Tongg Publishing Company, a HawaiianTongg president David Benz de-firm, sold the magazine for an un- dined to comment on the sale. How-disclosed sum to a U.S. mainland ever, it was announced in March thatpublishing company. According to Pat Loui, a former Communication In-the Honolulu Advertiser, Tongg will stitute degree scholar, would assu-continue to print the monthly maga- me editorial responsibility of thezine under an agreement with Johnson Hawaii monthly.10

Hawaii's Communication

Future Examined CloselyBy JA CKIE BOWEN

Honolulu

More than 100 Hawaii residentstook a serious look into their com-munication future over the nextdecade or two at a day-long confer-ence held January 17 in Honolulu,with the discussion ranging fromthe alternative kinds of telecommu-nication available to extra-terres-trial communication and biorhythms.Many consider the meeting the firststep in developing a comprehensiveState policy on communication.

Panelists in the communicationtechnology discussion predicted thatnewspapers as we know them todaywill disappear in 15 years, to bereplaced with television-deliveredfacsimile or video-casettes. Thecost of telecommunication will de-crease and the abilities of technol-ogy will increase, opening up a widerange of communication services and,for the policy and planners, impor-tant choices on communication sys-tems. Citizens ability to know andintelligently choose from among thevariety of communication services atvarying costs will increase in im-portance.

A current program, the LibraryDemonstration Project, uses PEACESATand teletype to link American Samoa,Hawaii, Micronesia, Guam, New Cale-donia and Fiji in an informationresource network. By the year 2000,it was felt that Hawaii would belinked to global information sys-tems. Hawaii's future as an infor-mation clearinghouse for the Pacif-ic was questioned several times.

Despite great advances in in-creasing the flow and accessibilityof information, it was felt thatHawaii did not really have a goodidea of what comes in and out ofthe state, or flows across it, andwhat the costs and needs for suchinformation are. It was alsostressed that delivery is the keyto an information policy--by what-ever means. The system fails whenthe user cannot get what is needed.

Panelists discussing develop-ment of communication skills fore-cast that the production and utili-zation of materials or energysources would be more intimatelyconnected to human communication.A panelist predicted that theKissinger-era 'Grand Statesman'policy would soon change to a more

(please turn to page 12)

a .

TRUSTTERRITORY CONSIDERINGSECOND PEACESAT TERMINAL

Consideration is being givenSATELLITE ROUND UP to establishing another PEACESATterminal in the Trust Territory.An informative review of PEACESATProject activities in Micronesia,published in a recent issue ofHighlights, said that the location

PEACESAT (Pan Pacific Education ment in multi-media applications,ofthe Community College of Micro-and Communication Experiments by Sat-nesia,and the new Ponape Referralellite) has activated two additional With the addition of Santa Hospital make "a PEACESAT terminalterminals in the Pacific Basin net-Cruz and American Samoa to theinPonape desirable at the presentwork. Joining the system in Decem- PEACESAT system, the total numbertime.ber 1976 was the Center for Southof terminals is now 16. As ofPacific Studies at the University ofFebruary 1, 1977, they are: George Callison, PEACESAT'sCalifornia, Santa Cruz.Saipanterminal manager, wrote the

One of the first activities ofthe Santa Cruz terminal is an ex-periment in which Pacific Basin highschool students participate inScience-writing Dialogues. One loca-tion prepares a 3-5 minute dialoguewhich is followed by an internationalround-table discussion solicitingcomments from all locations.

In January 1977 a terminal wasreactivated in Pago Pago, AmericanSamoa. The new location for theterminal is the American Samoa Com-munity College.

A series of discussions on Eng-lish as a Second Language curriculummethods and testing procedures is a-

mong the early applications made ofPEACESAT by the American Samoa Edu-cation community.

Additional planned uses of theterminal include continuing educa-tion for teachers, nursing education,physician consulting, and an experi-

Honolulu, Hawaii - Universityof Hawaii; Wellington, New Zealand- Wellington Polytechnic; Suva,Fiji - University of the SouthPacific; Kingdom of Tonga - USPCenter; Lae, Papua New Guinea -

Papua New Guinea University ofTechnology; Port Moresby, PapuaNational Broadcasting Commission;Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands -Trust Territory of the PacificIslands; Noumea, New Caledonia -South Pacific Commission; Raroton-ga, Cook Islands - Cook IslandsGovernment; Niue Island - USPCentre; Honiara, Solomon Islands- USP Centre; Tarawa, Gilbert Is-lands - USP Centre; Vila, NewHebrides - Kawenu Training Col-lege; Apia, Western Samoa - Edu-cation Department; American Samoa- American Samoa Community Col-lege; and Santa Cruz, California- Center for Pacific Studies,University of California, SantaCruz.

AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE! HA WAIl ACTIVE PEAGESAT USER

Editor's note: Hundreds ofgroupsand individuals have parti-cipated in PEACESA Texchanges overthe past severalyears. The fol-io wing article, from the February1977 Ho 'olauna the American FieldService/Hawaii newsletter, describesone such exchange:

Since 1971, American Field Ser-vice/Hawaii has had the only regular,international satellite communicationexchange in AFS anywhere. Thanks tothe ATS-1 satellite as administeredby the PEACESAT program at the Uni-versity of Hawaii, AFS participantsin Hawaii and the Pacific basin havegathered around their respectivemicrophones and listened and "watched'AFS events from other places. Ex-change of AFS chapter and club news,fund-raising ideas, student exchangeexperiences, a foreign student coun-seling workshop, and even a discussionof the AFS World Congress resolutions

have been among the topics discussedThe first Short Term Exchange inAlaska was a spontaneous outgrowthof an idea generated during one pro-gram when both Juneau and Fairbankswere participating.

PAFSPECS (Pacific/AFS PEACESATEducational Communication System) isthe name for this unique program.Last summer a presentation was givenat the World Educator's Conferencewhich met in Honolulu. Included wasa live PAFSPECS exchange featuringthe newest mode of the program calledSatelvision: duplicated slide setsshown simultaneously locally whilethe commentary is carried by PEACE-SAT. The recorded narration is keptwith the slides as a permanent AVprogram resource. That time theprogram featured two New Zealandstudents' AFS experiences ... oneto the USA and the other to Malaysia.

review. He also said that thechoice of Ponape as the futurecapital of Micronesia is anotherreason for building another termi-nal, especially if the future gov-ernment wants to remain in thePEACESAT network.

By mid-April, the Trust Ter-ritory will have participated inthe PEACESAT experiment for fouryears. Callison stressed that'had it not been for the visionand enthusiasm of Broadcast Divi-sion and the Department of PublicAffairs in 1972 it is quite like-ly this satellite communicationsystem might never have been madeavailable to the Trust Territory.Other departments rejected theidea at the time because, amongother reasons, of its experimentalnature."

The Trust Territory Depart-ments of Education and HealthServices have been the most activeusers of the satellite system.Other users have included the HighCommissioner's Office, the Officeof the Attorney General, and thedivisions of Agriculture, MarineResources, Lands and Surveys, Labor,Community Development, Broadcast,Public Information, and the Con-gress of Micronesia.

Callison said the future ofPEACESAT looks bright "on allcounts." He cited the life span ofATS-l, which recently celebratedits 10th anniversary of service.An upcoming series with AmericanSamoa utilizing teletype facsimile,wired blackboard, slow-scan televi-sion, and possibly computer assess-ing shows that the system is aliveand well.

The possibility of a new ter-minal on Ponape, Callison said,could only benefit Micronesia."There would be nothing to loseand everything to gain by doingso.

11

.-

Saipan Broadcasting Station toA Christian broadcasting ser-

vice began construction of transmit-ter and studio facilities on Saipanin January. Far East BroadcastingCo.,Inc, (FEBC), a California basedmissionary group, will aim its ini-tial radio services to the Marianas

during the early stages of its oper-ation.

According to a report in theMarianas Variety, Burd Brunemeier,FEBC's Saipan director, said a bal-ance between religious and nonreli-gious programming is the aim of thenew station. FEBC hopes to be onthe air by June 1977.

Brunemeier also said that he

hopes to expand FEBC transmitterfacilities to allow the station tobroadcast to the People's Republicof China and other Asian countriesFEBC has 26 other stations in thePhilippines, South Korea, theSeychelles, Indonesia and theUnited States. Three stations onOkinawa closed recently, and theequipment from those stations willbe used on Saipan.

The station hopes to air clas-sical music, local and internationalnews, and educational programs, andhave some of them broadcast inChamorro, Carolinian and possiblyJapanese.

Northern Marianas LegislatureConsidering TV Censorship Bill

Concern over the possible ef- The concern of the legislatorsfects of television have led eight is clearly the amount of televisedmembers of the Northern Marianas violence they believe is now beingLegislature to introduce a bill in shown. The bill says, "It is be-the current session which calls for lieved that such a commission couldprior censorship of television pro- contribute substantially to the re-

grams. duction of juvenile delinquency andcrime that exist on Saipan."

The bill would empower seven Opposition to the bill is beingcensors to preview all programs be- led primarily by the television sta-fore they are shown, make recommen- tions, WSZE-TV and Saipan's Cable-dations to the two Saipan televi- TV. They contend that since thesion stations concerning program- Northern Marianas has opted to joinming, and prohibit stations from the United States as a Commonwealth,airing certain shows if the stations American laws such as the Firstfail to comply with the reconmienda- Amendment should also be applicable.tions of the censors.

There are no official censorsThe powers of the censors would presently in either the Trust Tern-

be such that, 'Any television sta- tory or the Territory of Guam. Ation that refuses to comply with the similar attempt to introduce a cine-decision (of the censors) shall not ma censorship panel on Guam two yearsbe allowed to continue to operate ago was voted down by the Guam Legis-in the Northern Maniana Islands."

lature.

Fiji government to acquire Cable & WirelessThe Fiji government will ac-

quire a 51% interest in the BritishGovernment-owned Cable and Wireless.According to a report in PIM, FijiInternational Telecommunications,Ltd. (Fintel) will take over theC&W operations soon but it will con-tinue to operate out of the presentC&W building in Suva.

PIM reports that the takeoverwill cost Fiji F$3.5 million, about$1 million less than originallyestimated. An initial 10% of stockwill be purchased soon, and the bal-ance is to be purchased by 1982.Fintel will retain C&W staff andmanagement. C&W will retain owner-ship of its repair shops and ship

service station.

Fintel will be a commercialoperation, Fiji Minister for Commu-nications Jonati Mavoa said. Profitswill be used to finance developmentprojects. The PIM article said thatthe Fiji government increased inter-national telecommunications rates by25% as of August, 1976. Anotherincrease is expected this year. C&Wrates have remained stable for thepast 15 years.

The Fiji government move maysignify an important development inthe attitude of the government to-ward communication and regional con-tacts.

Preach Gospel'The Variety story quoted a FEBC

publication which said the purposeof the broadcasting operation is to"provide Gospel broadcasting sta-tions... in order that the Gospel ofChrist may be more fully preachedand established in the world."

There was some speculation in1975, when FEBC first approached theTrust Territory about establishinga station, that FEBC's Protestantmessage on predominantly CatholicSaipan might cause difficulties.Brunemeier told the Variety, "We'renot coming to rock the boat...caus-ing a big battle between Protestantsand Catholics." He added that FEBChas operated in the Phillipines for29 years.

When FEBC begins broadcasting,it will join Saipan's two other ra-dio stations. KJQR, the governmentstation, was the first, beginningoperations in 1964. WSZE, a privateAM/FM station broadcasting musictapes sent from the U.S. mainland,started in 1976.

COMMUNJC4 TION OPTIONS FOR HA WAH

CONSIDERED AT HONOLULUMEETING

(continued from page 10)interpersonal, intercultural com-munication style. In the publicinterest discussion, communication/transportation trade-offs for partsof Hawaii were advocated to de-crease traffic congestion and tele-communication competition ratherthan a regulated monopoly was urgedonce basic equipment has beeninstalled.

One panelist took the positionof an average citizen viewing theincreasing complexity of communica-tion systems and asked whether com-puter information centers could be-come the controlling agent betweenmore people and machines in thefuture.

Another problem with the in-crease in availability of complextelecommunication's equipment con-cerned the telephone company's pro-grams to train equipment installers.By the time equipment installers aretaught how to interconnect one kindof new equipment into the largercommunication system, changes aremade in the components which makeone kind obsolete soon after instal-lation. Buyers of new communicationsystems are caught in the same bind--technological advance can makejust-purchased equipment out-of-date.