With all the revelations with the Miss World Fiji
competition this year, it is funny how the international media has labelled Fiji
as a racist country. It is true that some racist comments were made on the Mai Life Magazine Facebook page, but that does not mean that that is the view of all the people
of Fiji. There are always critics around us, and some even stoop so low. If you
had read those comments closely, you would have noticed there were so many other
comments that were counteracting the racist comments against Torika Watters.
It is indeed sad that the international media only took the
negativity out of the competition. Even after the facts were made clear that
Torika was not eligible because of her age, the media stayed on focus with
those few Facebook comments. I mean you don’t have to be a genius to know that
there will always be people criticising and giving their ‘two cent’ opinions. I
think the media should have been more responsible in reporting this story. To
make it worse, these were comments made on Facebook, the most informal place I
can imagine. However, the way the media reported it overseas was as if there
was some sort of anti-Torika protest going on here. It seems to me that the
media abroad was just trying to get people’s attention.
E News
reported that Torika was dethroned because of the racism. They did mention
Torika’s age issue, but it is amusing how they shifted focus to the race issue.
I would sort of understand E News reporting this because most of their work is
about drama and gossip but it is sad that even the Daily Mail,
Fox News
and Yahoo News
reported the similar stories. If you do a Google search on Torika, almost all
results are beginning with the ‘race’ issue. This is really damaging to Fiji
especially because we have made tourism our life line and many families depend
on it. The negativity portrayed by the media abroad about Fiji is outrageous. To
remind you again, that these reports were based on a few Facebook comments.
This reminds me of the very basics of Journalism ethics, which has been
completely ignored in this case.
The latest in the fiasco is that the head of the Miss World
franchise, Julia Morley, will be visiting Fiji. Julia told Fiji Times
that;
She was sadly aware of all the problems that occurred since the crowning of 16-year-old Torika Watters as Miss World Fiji a few weeks ago. Ms Watters age drew many to question her maturity and ability to effectively represent Fiji. "I would very much like to visit Fiji and work together with a specially selected team including Andhy to find solutions for the future”.
The same was reported in the Washington Post.
Hopefully her visit to Fiji will patch things up here and re assure the people throughout the world that Fiji is not a racist nation.
thanks blogger for the above!
ReplyDeleteSometimes people don't know how scandalous media can be! Of course everyone is allowed to give an opinion to value freedom of expression but that does not mean you repeatedly tarnish someone not knowing the truth! beauty pageants are not necessarily based on looks, there are other credentials that are considered. and definitely you want someone who influential to the society, discuss key issues that can bring about change, someone who can inspire and look up to! Who wants a winner that has beauty but no brain?
Regardless of Ms. Watters mixed background, if she has been born and bred in Fiji that makes her Fijian. and about the age criteria - the organizers are at fault for putting up an amateur beauty pageant, and also being negligent for not fully understanding the criteria!
It's E! News. Last name on second reference, not first. Reassure is one word.
ReplyDeleteThe reports by overseas media was just ridiculous! This was a grand example of how some media organizations OVER-SENSUALIZE issues in the world today.
ReplyDeletePratish maybe you missed the report in THE TELEGRAPH by Jonathan Pearlman "...hundreds of racist and violent comments which had to be removed...The former British colony has long been beset by racial tensions, mainly stemming from its mix of ethnic Fijians and a large minority of Fijians of Indian descent."
What does Pearlman by this? Where is the racial tension between Fijians and I-taukei's? I think this was just poor reporting on the path of some experience journalists. Pearlman is based in Sydney and I think this explains the way he has written this article.
This simply indicates that our Pacific neighbours (Australia and New Zealand) have their own agendas to put across rather than focussing on the issue itself. I think this should be highlighted in our local media and the people should set up a protest against those media organizations who are trying to tarnish Fiji’s image.
Grow up and focus on the issue, overseas media!
This just goes to show how much of an influence the media has on peoples' perceptions of issues such as this one. We can fall on the ground, kicking and screaming that it was not about Torika's race, but her age, but all that would have been to no avail. Media organisations such as E! News prey on issues like these and takes the gossip and rumors to the next level (the global scene being that, in this case). It's a shame that other news agencies follow soot without actually finding out the facts.
ReplyDeleteFacebook is a classic example of the influences of social media and it can be clearly seen that those few "comments" caused a lot of uproar. Just another indication that social media is fast becoming good hunting ground for mainstream media. Amidst all this, Torika admirably remains calm and says that she fell victim to the whole 'fiasco'.