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Community
Television in the Outer Islands, Cook Islands
In
2003 community television was initiated in four of the Outer Islands
of the Cook Islands as part of Small Islands Voice activities.
The islands were Aitutaki, Mangaia and Mitiaro in the Southern
Group and Manihiki in the Northern Group.
The
fortnightly television programmes are produced by students with
adult assistance and supervision. Programmes have featured environmental
issues, school activities, interviews with visitors and government
officials to the islands, health shows, Island Council briefs,
and other community news. The programmes are sponsored by Small
Islands Voice, REAP, Anchor Milk New Zealand and Mobil Oil.
The
project started in Mangaia (population 700) in early March 2003.
The 15-20 minute news programmes are produced by Mangaia School
students and are broadcast on a fortnightly basis. On alternate
fortnights Mangaia's Tanga'eo Environmental Rangers produce and
broadcast an environmental programme featuring local issues and
development. The first productions
included a farewell function for a retiring teacher/poet and a
news broadcast, as well as programmes on biodiversity and the
importance of not littering.
In
July 2003, the Mitiaro Community TV Station benefited from a digital
video camera donated by Stuart Davis. This enables the young
people to film and broadcast community events.
A
survey of the Community Television
News Programme was conducted in July, 2003, and the survey respondents
were very much in favour of the continuation of the community
news programme.
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