Female Journalist to Sue MP For Defamation As PNG Opposition Declares War on Print Media

A female journalist in Papua New Guinea’s Madang Province wants to sue local MP Bryan Kramer for alleged defamation that she was paid by a former Member of Parliament using district funds.

On June 2^nd 2018, Mr Kramer told a media conference that he discovered that District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) funds for Madang District were used to pay a certain female journalist in Madang.

Mr Kramer claimed that stories written by the female journalist were extremely biased and was questioned by the MP but she refused to respond.

“I have her on record previously saying that she never did but now since occupying office I’ve gone through the accounts and found out that payments were made to journalists”, says Kramer.

Communications Minister Sam Basil in response defended journalists.

“No one should be critical of journalists and their news media organisations for use of taxpayers’ money to bring out news on events and the plights of Papua New Guinea in remote rural areas of our country,” says Minister Basil.

“We all also need to understand those journalists are themselves taxpayers and so are their employers – news media organisations. They are also reporting on and for PNG citizens and constituents for the public and leaders to be aware.”

Kramer then responded in an article accusing journalists of writing misleading and biased reports.

“Wait so Basil is of the view that due to the limited funds available to paid journalists and profit driven news companies, it is acceptable to take the limited funds for the people (causing shortage of medical supplies, shortage of TFF funds) and give it to journalists who can write up misleading and bias reports about Members of Parliament and Ministers who paid them?”

The National newspaper’s Madang correspondent Dorothy Mark wrote on her Facebook wall clarifying the attack by Kramer on her saying Kramer was infuriated by a story she wrote on septic issues at the Madang District office.

“My good friends and fellow journos, the past few weeks I have been heavily criticised by my Open MP, Bryan Kramer simply for doing a story of the Madang district office eviction of officers because of a septic problem.

After reading that story Kramer personally texted me and along that he accused me for getting paid by former MP Nixon Duban for doing his media.

Instead of addressing the district office septic problem he attacked me for getting paid by Duban.

I would say that is a very cheap revenge for a national MP like Kramer and huge damage done to tarnish my profession and made me look bad.

He wants to sue me for benefiting from DSIP. I AM NOT SCARED ONE BIT!!! I am looking forward to it.

INFACT I AM WELL PREPARED TO SUE KRAMER FOR DEFAMATION IN A HUMAN RIGHTS COURT.

I am in the process of seeking legal advice before doing that.

I sincerely apologise to my fellow journalists for tarnishing our career as claimed by Kramer. In time you will see the truth.

May I also remind you all that you can publish stories against your fellow colleagues but remember no one is a saint on earth. Check your reporters' hands if there are no dirts before you scribe.

Likewise confirm allegations and understand the nature around the allegations before publishing or else you'll get your news organisations into trouble.”

In the recent weeks Kramer has raised serious allegations against journalists and media organisations in the country.

On Sunday June 24^th 2018 Kramer published a statement containing the text conversations between him and the female reporter.

He also called on citizens to stop buying the two daily newspapers in PNG accusing them of promoting corruption by publishing fake Govt news and ignoring articles on high-level corruption.

“Using the power and influence of the people we need to fight corruption by not buying both the National and Post Courier that in my view promote corruption by publishing fake Govt news and ignoring articles on high-level corruption. Fake news that is intended to mislead the public of the real state of the economy and failures of a corrupt O'Neill Government.

It is beyond a question of doubt the articles published in both National and Post Courier are clearly biased, written by reporters who have a close personal association to Members of Parliament or their staff.

I am tired of corruption and I'm tired of the media who have lost their journalist integrity. With exception to a few self-respecting journalists, it appears in PNG we have a free media, free to be compromised so no need to threaten them.

I'm tired of them not asking the questions that need to be asked or at least confirming the reports by the O'Neill Government are in fact false.

Newspapers rely on company advertising so until they clean up their act I'm asking for your help to hold them to account by not buying the paper for three weeks and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Further still if the company you work for advertises in either paper then tell them to pull their advising or at the least put the paper on notice that their misleading reports will lose them business.

80% of our people living in remote and rural parts of PNG are feeling the pain of corruption - so let’s help the media organisations feel the same pain in their bottom line.

If you are a Pastor/Father or a member of a Church or fellowship group tell your members not to buy newspapers.

I intend to take this issue on the street - it's a war they won't win and can't afford to lose. My advice to the management of both papers is start cleaning up your act before the people clean up your business.”