Polynesian youth get a taste of the media

Tu Tangata, Issue 8, 1 October 1982, Page 23

Polynesian youth get a taste of the media

Sundee Transfield

New Zealand has its roots in Maori culture and that has to be acknowledged, whether it’s liked or not. This was one of the points raised at a recent media hui. Journalists were told that the obvious way to present maoritanga would be through the media.

It was pointed out that as well as the media changing its attitude, there was a great need for more Maori and Pacific Island journalists.

That’s been the basis of a number of introductory journalism courses run by the Journalist Training Board in association with Maori Affairs. The aim has been to show the various sides of newspaper, television, radio and magazine journalism to Maori and Pacific Island students.

A recent Wellington course was based at Pendennis Hostel with 19 students aged between 16 and 22. Some came from as far as Gisborne and Auckland, and as the week-long course progressed, most found journalism within their reach and at the same time fun. Throughout the course’s seven working days they had work sessions on basic journalism skills; visited Press House and spoke with editors and reporters; visited Television’s Avalon studios and had a hand at interviewing in front of a camera. They also visited Radio New Zealand where they had a chance to produce their own radio programme. Towards the end of the course they were given the opportunity to go out

with people from the media and scout around for news items, conduct an interview and then write up a suitable story. A six former at Hutt Valley Memorial College, Robert Wilson said he enjoyed the course because he was involved in practical things and wasn’t expected to

sit there and listen. Robert said he most enjoyed the day spent at Radio New Zealand, where he and a few others had to produce a commercial suitable for recording. “We had to do all the work; find an angle, write the script, perform it and then record it. It was entirely our own a lot of fun.” Maria Mamea agreed. “We all did something ourselves and worked towards the final product.”

Many of the students also realised the trials of being on television. Robert said his main problem was looking straight at the camera lens. “You feel selfconscious, usually you talk eye to eye with someone, not some object.’’ The course has done a lot, say the students. Myra Mckay said “It’s been important to me being there with the students because we do everything together but see things in a different light.” Other people’s views are appreciated. Fiona Hamlin from Wairoa felt that the course had made her open her eyes and not take her maoritanga for granted. She said she enjoyed express-* ing views with others. And did the course help the students make up their minds? Some of them think “journalism’s not for me”, others are already eyeing the editor’s chair and applying for full-time journalism courses.