A leading Papua New Guinea journalist, Scott Waide, has been suspended from his job on government orders, for reporting linked to APEC.
Mr Waide's employer, the state-owned EMTV, said he was suspended over a story broadcast last weekend during the APEC leaders summit in Port Moresby.
Scott Waide speaks at a Transparency International PNG youth programme. Photo: Transparency International PNG
The orders came from the board of state asset holding company Kumul Consolidated Holdings, via a Media Niugini board member.
In a message to staff, the state-owned company said it had been forced to act against the Lae bureau chief and senior journalist in relation to a broadcast during the APEC leaders summit in Port Moresby.
Mr Waide was in charge of EMTV's coverage of APEC.
On Saturday 17 November, EMTV ran an item from New Zealand media outlet Newshub.
It reported that while in Moresby, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern would not travel in one of a fleet of Maseratis which PNG's government controversially bought for the summit.
He has recently reported extensively on widespread medicine shortages in the country's hospitals, and more recently revealed Chinese restrictions on media during the world summit hosted by PNG.
Stressing that he had not been sacked, EMTV said it was addressing Mr Waide's situation, "with the utmost importance and priority".
EMTV added that "the decisions are not favourable to EMTV", and go against its responsibilities to free and fair coverage.
