Nau mai haere mai Mark Pearson!
A big welcome to Professor Mark Pearson of Griffith University who joined us as an APMN member last week on the opening day of the highly successful Pacific International Media Conference hosted by the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.  

Most of us would know Mark who has been a long-standing member of  the Pacific Journalism Review editorial board and it was great to have him join us at the 30th anniversary of PJR in Suva (more about that celebration later).

Mark is a journalist, author, academic researcher and teacher with more than 45 years’ experience in journalism and journalism education. He is a former editor of Australian Journalism Review, a columnist for 15 years on research journal findings for the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association Bulletin, and author of 13 books, including The Communicator’s Guide to Media Law and Ethics  – A Handbook for Australian Professionals (Routledge, 2024).

Pictured above: Conference chair A/Professor Shailendra Singh and Del Abcede (both APMN members) getting pix of the "Publish or Perish?" panel at Pacific Media 2024. Mark is second from left in the panel. Image: David Robie

At the conference, Mark presented a paper in the "Navigating media law, ethics and practice  in Pacific democracies" panel and also in the "Publish or perish? Challenges of journalism journals for the Global South/Asia Pacific" panel. APMN's new planned publication Pacific Media was also announced.

More than 100 people from 11 countries participated.

With Mark joining us APMN now has 20 members -- 18 full members and two supporters. Spread the word for more members.

Pictured: Professor Mark Pearson presenting at the "Publish or perish?" panel. Moderator was adjunct professor Vijay Naidu (University of the South Pacific - left) and PJR current editor Dr Philip Cass and founding editor Dr David Robie also took part. Image: Del Abcede

Pictured: Most of the APMN team at Pacific Media 2024 in Suva - Khairiah A. Rahman (from left), Del Abcede, Philip Cass, Adam Brown, David Robie and Rach Mario. (Missing: Nik Naidu). Image: Khairiah A. Rahman