Vanuatu: Veteran media pioneer passes away

On Saturday, June 9, veteran journalist and media pioneer, Jonas Cullwick, passed away in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The International Federation of Journalists and its affiliate the Media Association blong Vanuatu (MAV) expressed sadness over Jonas’ passing, and condolences for his family, friends and colleagues.

Jonas Cullwick (middle) at the IFJ Pacific Regional Meeting in Vanuatu in October 2018. Credit: Jane Worthington/IFJ

On Saturday, June 9, veteran journalist and media pioneer, Jonas Cullwick, passed away in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The International Federation of Journalists and its affiliate the Media Association blong Vanuatu (MAV) expressed sadness over Jonas’ passing, and condolences for his family, friends and colleagues. Jonas Cullwick was working as a senior journalist at the Daily Post in Vanuatu until his death, and was the executive treasurer of MAV. He had a long and well-respected career in the media in Vanuatu, working as a journalist with Radio Vila and then serving as the General Manager of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation in the 1990s. Evelyne Toa, President of MAV said: “Late Mr Cullwick is a man of action and ‘perfectness’. All he does wanted to be ‘perfect’ professionally. He was a mentor to most of us practicing journalism today. Despite circumstance MAV went through, Jonas was the one, who would stand by MAV and encouraged us to continue to move on, will really miss him, for our usual ‘coffee-storian’. Anytime we call him, he is always ready. He is a great lost.”Daily Post colleague and childhood friend, Len Garae said: “The network that he's built, as soon as people knew it was Jonas Cullwick calling they would pick up the phone. He was a well-known and well-respected journalist in much of the country… He's left a big hole for the media in Vanuatu.” IFJ Asia Pacific acting director Jane Worthington, who met Jonas Cullwick last year at the IFJ regional meeting in Vanuatu, said: “The passing of Jonas Cullwick is a great loss for the media of Vanuatu and the Pacific. Vanuatu’s media will greatly miss his presence and the important role that he played in fighting for press freedom in his country. We send our condolences to his family, MAV and the wider media community, who are mourning the loss of a great journalist.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0946 

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific