Mainstream, social media collaboration needed

 By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 22, 2017 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

MEDIA Council President, Alexander Rheeney, has called on the mainstream media to find common ground as partners in the social media information age and evolution taking place in the country.

While announcing the launch of the National Press Club, he responded to queries on the inclusion of social media in the mainstream collective, despite a cloud of uncertainty, which he said still remains towards the growing social media space.

“There has been some discussions about social media and we have to acknowledge the fact that thousands of Papua New Guineans are reading content of what is produced by bloggers here in PNG,” Rheeney said.

“This issue has already been put to the council and how do we incorporate bloggers in the media council membership.”

“And I know that a lot of reporters, news executives, a lot of media organisations feel passionate about the issue. There are some who feel threatened by the presence of social media and whether to bring them in as partners or whether they will lead to your demise as a platform.”

He called on the mainstream media to openly discuss the issue- adding that a collaborative approach seemed the better solution, rather than the council been the odd person out taking the lead.

“How do you see social media? Do you accept them or do you see them as opponents?”

“My personal opinion is that we collaborate with them because at the end of the day we all reaching out to the same audience- we are all reaching out to Papua New Guineans. Social media is enriching the conversation out there right now.”

“If we push them out, I recon we get left behind. We need to look for a way. Mainstream media, we need to see how we can bring them into our plans and treat them as partners,” he added.