FMA President Dismisses Perception Media Not Free
Delaibatiki calls on journalists to practise their profession without fear
The president of the Fijian Media Association (FMA), Nemani Delaibatiki, has called on journalists to practise their profession without fear.
Mr Delaibatiki said the claim by some that the media was not free was not true.
He said it was only a perception, a hangover from the days of censorship in the newsroom.
He reminded journalists that the penalty provision against journalists who breached the media law had been repealed.
He said he understood this was the cause of fear and reservation before.
He said if journalists were well trained and covered their basics, there was nothing to fear.
He said not much investigative journalism was happening because journalists lacked the skills and the resources to do it.
He said that was why training was needed.
He was addressing a FMA gathering in Suva to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day.
He said the training of journalists was crucial if the standard of journalism was to improve.
He said only some media organisations like the Fiji Sun were investing in training.
The Fiji Sun newsroom has the largest pool of graduates.
In addition two more journalists are pursuing similar programmes overseas.
He said all media organisations must commit to the training of their journalists.
Currently there was a small pool of skilled and experienced journalists to draw from, he said.
He said one of the challenges that journalists faced today was to do investigative journalism.
Journalists observed a one-minute silence to remember more than 70 journalists killed last year and the 11 who died in two explosions in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Fijian Media Association in a statement, said the organisation was proud of its members and proud to celebrate this World Press Freedom Day with them.
The statement said that journalists had worked hard and endured many challenges over the past year.
It said they deserved to be recognised for the great work they did every day.
The FMA celebrations started with a Zumba workout at Albert Park in Suva.
Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar
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