19 November 2008
Journalism students challenged by ‘inspiring’ noho marae
31 May 2007
By Jomine Neethling: Te Waha Nui Online
More than 70 staff and students from AUT University’s School of Communication Studies joined together in an “inspiring” cultural experience on Hoani Waititi Marae to help them become better and more culturally accurate journalists.
The journalism major students spent two days at the noho marae and heard from political and media leaders such as Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples, MP for Tai Tokerau Hone Harawera, and Mana magazine publisher Derek Fox.
“This was an opportunity for the students to be immersed in tikanga Maori and to develop more confidence when reporting in situations involving Maori traditions and protocols,” says AUT School of Communications associate professor David Robie.
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| Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples. Photo: Dylan Quinnell |
For many of the students it was their first formal stay on a marae.
“To be honest, I had no idea what it was going to be like and I thought it would be boring,” says Bachelor of Communication Studies journalism major Jessica Rowe.
“It was also a very inconvenient time with assignments.
“But now I take all that back. The trip was really amazing and inspiring.”
Journalism Graduate Diploma student Justin Henehan says he was initially nervous and worried that he would do or say something that was wrong.
“But once I was there it didn’t feel so strange – it was actually very welcoming.You felt as if it was your place as well.”
Dr Robie says the annual noho marae was the climax of a cross-cultural reporting module, which ends with a taha Maori news reporting assignment. It is also a chance for the students to meet Maori politicians and media personalities, and for them to also share their ideas with the students.
“They were able to talk about how the media cover Maori issues and tell our students how they can be better journalists in a bicultural and multicultural New Zealand,” says Dr Robie.
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| Maori Party communications spokesperson and MP Hone Harawira. Photo: Dylan Quinnell |
Harawira, the Maori Party spokesperson on communications, told the students about the power the media has in shaping opinions about Maori.
“The media can absolutely destroy you if you do things that are not the way the mainstream sees it,” says Harawira.
“It’s surprising to me that after centuries of living together Maori culture and customs are still not properly understood.”
Dr Sharples told the students about positive Maori stories that were not being reported in the media.
Only a limited number of angles are reported about gangs – like banning patches in public, says Dr Sharples.
Little mention was made of the effort involved in persuading 12 different gang leaders to come together on one marae to talk through the roots of their issues, he says.
Student Jess Rowe says: “The reality is that the media don’t represent Maori accurately.
“Pita Sharples said it straight. But I don’t think he should accept it.
“There was a whole wharenui full of student journalists. When he spoke to them, they were inspired to make a difference and give Maori a more accurate voice,” says Rowe.
Associate Dean Arlene Morgan, of the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, who is also co-editor of The Authentic Voice about better ethnicity reporting, also joined the students for the noho marae.
Jomine Neethling, originally from South Africa, is a final year AUT journalism student.
Links:
- Pita Sharples’ website
- Hone Harawira’s website
- Mana Magazine
