Tonga broadcasting chair Tu'i Uata defends moving journalists Featured
14 October, 2017. The chair of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission says the state broadcaster was in danger of shutting down so needed to be restructured.
Earlier Tu'i Uata began his tenure by moving two of the TBC's most experienced journalists out of the newsroom and into the marketing department.
Both journalists had had run-ins this year with prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva who called the TBC an enemy of government because of its critical coverage.
However Dr Uata told Kaniva News that change had to occur as the TBC faced being shut down within two months because it was running at a loss.
He blamed the situation on the way the news was created saying the problem was the content was not popular.
Dr Uata said according to the law the TBC is under, if the organisation was not financially viable or could not perform than there was a ground for dismissal.
When asked why the news manager and editor were moved out of the newsroom he said their expertise should bring in revenues and not cause a loss to people's tax money.
-RNZI
3 comments
-
Dr water alleged that the content of the news was not popular. According to who? How did he know this? Did he conduct a survey of TBC listeners? These wild untrue unsubstantiated allegations are the trademark of 'aki and his cronies, and their blind followers love them!!!
I fail to see the link between the content of the news and the "running at a loss" dr water is talking about. Not that listeners pay to listen to the news which would mean that a drop in rating means a drop in revenue. I am very interested to know how dr water got his data. -
Well said Ofanoa
-
What does the so-called PhD and chairman of the board of directors of TBC know about broadcasting and running a business successfully? Judging by what this article says really speaks volume about the chairman's inability to lead this organization's board of directors. where is the demarcation line that the chair ought to know and perform within? Look around him and his own/family business has been lying derelict at the wharf. the caretaker government should come out clean and declare that they simply want to use, abuse and manipulate Tonga's major source of daily information and national broadcaster to their own advantage ahead of the 16/11 parliamentary election. hopefully they would not incite another riots as tu'i wata and his morons in government had done so in 2006 through TV OBN of Sangster Saulala and Chris Racine. please wake up Tonga and save the ONLY PUBLIC BROADCASTER in the Pacific that has been operating without financial assistance from its government. These two most experienced reporters should be returned to the newsroom to do what they do best in being the ears and eyes for the people of Tonga. Talamonu atu Viola Ulakai mo Laumanu Petelo, 'ofa ke 'aofia moua 'e he 'Otua lolotonga e taimi faingata'a ni he pule fakatikitato 'a e sea 'oe poatee mo e pule'anga fakataimi ko eni 'oku ilifia ki he mo'oni mo e totonu.