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PNG: Control of social media 'necessary', says The National

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/png-control-social-media-necessary-says-national-9193

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Item: 9193

PORT MORESBY (The National/Pacific Media Watch): The job of the media in maintaining equilibrium between truth and public perception and in ensuring always to remain just and objective cannot be overstated, says Papua New Guinea's The National in an editorial. The newspaper's editorial says:

For certain people, including politicians, public perception is almost everything and heavily dependent on portrayal by the media.

The mainstream media has today taken on an undeclared competitor. In an ideal scenario, the social media, via internet applications and multitude local blogs must necessarily complement the traditional media.

Where mainstream newspapers, radio and television are inhibited by situations such as geographical location or censorship and commercial considerations, social media could be the available option.

However, recent developments have given rise to criticisms against the abuse of social media in spreading defamatory information, lies and half-truths.

In the absence of any legal control or monitoring of the use of social media, it is open to widespread abuse.

Originally posted here:
PNG: Control of social media 'necessary', says The National