Pacific Press Release – AUT University, 27 August 2009

AUT brings more Pacific news to Scoop website

A new online Pacific media service, Pacific.Scoop, was launched today at AUT University’s Maori Expo by Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning in a live video panel with Maori and Pacific communications students.

A partnership between Scoop Media and AUT’s Pacific Media Centre, Pacific Scoop is hosted on the existing Scoop website.

It provides up-to-date news stories about Maori and Pasifika issues written by student journalists with support from experienced reporters and commentators.

Contributors will include students from AUT’s School of Communication Studies, the Divine Word University (Papua New Guinea), the National University of Samoa and the University of the South Pacific.

Manning said today: “The Pacific Scoop hub provides AUT’s journalism students and staff a place to foot it with other practising journalists and respected commentators around the region.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this project grow in popularity and to focus on major Pacific issues.”

Dr David Robie, director of AUT University’s Pacific Media Centre, is the editor of Pacific Scoop.  Dr Robie says the service introduces a fresh and independent voice of the greater Pacific.

“We are keen to tell the hidden stories and address important Pacific issues like climate change and resource development,” he says.

“Pacific Scoop allows us to highlight important Pacific issues, while also showcasing student journalism,” says Dr Robie.

“The site will provide a great resource for journalists and members of the public who are interested in detailed and up-to-date information about what is happening in the Pacific.”

Pacific issues have had prominence on the Scoop website since it was launched in 1999.  But Alastair Thompson, Scoop’s co-editor and co-founder, says the launch of Pacific Scoop will enhance the website’s Pacific coverage.

“This partnership will greatly increase our capacity to deliver news and commentary from the Pacific at a time when reporting resources in the Pacific are under great strain,” says Thompson.

Contact: Assoc Prof David Robie, AUT University
Editor, Pacific Scoop    www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
drobie@aut.ac.nz, 021 112 2079