The Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) has called on the Special Parliamentary Committee on Communications to continue to be transparent in its regional enquiries into the media, and to fulfil its commitment to enquire further into recent instances of media workers being targeted simply for doing their jobs. The Council said the Committee had announced that the recent suspension then termination of radio talkback show host Culligan Tanda, would be included in their committee inquiries. The Special Parliamentary Committee is currently conducting hearings in major regional centres, and has just completed its Momase enquiries in Madang. Media Council of PNG President Mr. Neville Choi, said these hearings are important to the future of media in the country, and the Council will be present at all remaining ones to ensure mainstream media is represented in its vital role as an important agent of democracy, and to maintain its independence as the fourth estate. “The Council will be following the remaining Committee hearings closely with a view to making a representation for the Committee to review the actions of state-owned enterprises managing media organizations to determine whether company Human Resource policies have been weaponized to target and intimidate media personnel and hold these organizations to account.” “In the case of Culligan Tanda, it was clear that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kalang Advertising Limited had advised Culligan that his suspension directive had come ‘from the top’ indicating that there was someone who had directed for him to be suspended and then terminated.” “This one state-owned enterprise has a track record of targeting and terminating media workers based on the fear of the media emanating from the very senior echelons of management in the SOE space.” “How long will the media continue to be suppressed at the whim of someone who clearly has very low self-esteem and a primal fear of the media?” He further stated that if anyone fears the media that much, then the only logical conclusion to draw is that this person has something to hide. “The media, at least those unafraid to hold truth to power, will continue to do what it does best, expose rots and mismanagement of positions of authority.” “The Council has been completely transparent with its engagement with the Parliamentary Committee and will be holding it to its commitment to enquire into Culligan Tanda’s termination.” Mr. Choi also added that while the terms of reference for the Committee’s inquiries has been updated, it is concerning that leaders continue to place mainstream media in the same pool as social media, which continues to remain unregulated.