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Diversity awards winner John Pulu; John's mother, Meliame Piuela Pulu, Spasifik deputy editor Qiane Corfield-Matata; and PMC director Dr David Robie at the awards night. Photo: Del Abcede/PMC.
Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Tupouseini Taumoepeau
With a “real passion to share the rich history” of his Pacific culture, John Pulu has been awarded the Spasifik Prize and Storyboard Award for diversity journalism.
At the annual School of Communication awards evening at AUT University, Pulu was presented with the prize by the deputy editor for Spasifik magazine, Qiane Corfield-Matata.
“It’s the best feeling to know that your hard work has been acknowledged and recognised by people from the industry,” says Pulu.
Pulu says that coming from South Auckland, which has always been portrayed with bad criticisms, he wanted to change that and adopt through his work a celebration of the “beautiful cultures” such as Tonga.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in television, Pulu produced documentaries titled The Modern Afo of Tonga and Kava Commune while working with TNews during his studies.
Corfield-Matata, who was also the first recipient to receive the award donated by Pacific Media Centre director Dr David Robie in 2006, says: “I know how hard it is to be a journalism student from the Pacific and all the effort that goes into it”.
“In the industry, we need those who are passionate and energised about telling Pacific stories and to add some balance into the mainstream media,” says Corfield-Matata.
Pulu is now working for TVNZ which he says “is a dream come true” as his aspirations to work with Tagata Pasifika started when he was first introduced to the “magic of television” at a gateway programme during his years at Otahuhu College.
Awards MC Miriama Kamo of Television New Zealand's TVNZ7 digital channel. Photo: Abcede/PMC.
Guest speaker from Television NZ, TVNZ7 presenter Miriama Kamo, says “diversity in the New Zealand media is vital and it is important that this is reflected”.
“There is that growing appreciation from the Māori and Pacific community when their stories are being told accurately, even in the little things such as the correct spelling and pronunciation of their language,” says Kamo.
Pulu says he hopes to write and film more stories about the areas that are not celebrated as much and are yet to be explored from his Tongan culture.
“It has been a tough journey and I’m thankful for the support of my family and parents for understanding what I wanted to do and also the support of my friends, the AUT staff and TNews who have helped me through,” says Pulu.
Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning with international journalism award-winner Jessica Harkins. Photo: Del Abcede/PMC.
Among other awards recognising diversity, Jessica Harkins won the Scoop Media Prize for International Journalism and was presented with the award by co-editor Selwyn Manning and Sophie Johnson won the TV3 Award for Excellence in Practical Production for her documentary The Makings of a Kaitiaki.
Tupouseini Taumoepeau is a Graduate Diploma in Journalism student at AUT University and a contributor to Pacific Scoop.
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Malo e ako John, they’ve recognized your “star quality”! ‘ouaa LOL I’ll make my official prediction now — this is the next face of Pasifika TV everyone
Congrats also to Jessica and Sophie – very intelligent young ladies I had the pleasure of knowing. Go hard girls
gee that’s cool..how do you get to win an award like that? are us govt. cronies also eligible?..
Terry – these awards are only for the students and new graduates! lol For Mr Pulu, it is well deserved because he makes an effort to bring out who were are as a people, in his work. On the other hand, I think the general rule for working journalists is that you have to get arrested, deported, and sued at least three times each before you get an award
lol..I keed, i keed…. good luck with your search!
Huge congrats to John, and nice work Tupouseini! -Both PIMA -AUT Scholarship winners in the past and deservedly so. Keep up the good work and we hope to see bigger and brighter in the near future. We’re looking forward to your work on Tagata John. Malie Tonga!
Malo e lelei Josephine and Terry,
I like how you put it Josie..
”you have to get arrested, deported, and sued at least three times each before you get an award”
Luckly i didnt go through that process lol however im very honoured for the recognition of my work in P.I and Tongan media. Its the best start to my career in the industry.
In temrs of eligibility i think you have to be AUT student because the previous recipient of the award have all been AUT graduates. Best person to talk to is David Robie.
Cheers
John
ps Josie, malo mu’a e fakalagilangi’i ‘a e ako kuo lava ‘ofa atu.
no worries john, josie..i was just being my stirring facetous self…congrats to the awardees..keep it up
Cheers Terry, Josie, Chris
Jp
Congratulations to the new awadees! More Pacific journalists are needed in NZ. In your list of past PIMA/AUT scholarship awadees, don’t forget Christine Gounder who is now a journalist with Radio New Zealand as well.