Great is truth

Abstract

Geographical remoteness, small populations and vast sea distances between nations are all factors which go to ensuring that the islands of the Pacific remain relatively unfamiliar territory to many in the international community. That a region so wealthy in languages, cultures and social traditions could also be a place of coups and tensions and where media freedoms are often trampled upon, is also little known to many casual observers. An opportunity for independent Pacific media voices to be heard and for press freedom activists to express concerns on the international stage came to the fore when the UNESCO Director-General agreed to the University of Queensland’s bid to host, for the first time in the Pacific, the annual UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference (2-3 May 2010). While global in nature, the conference addressed Pacific issues as a priority.