Weightlifting Fiji president Atma Maharaj has challenged sports journalists to write more creative and detailed reports on the various aspects of sports in the country.

Speaking during the two day Fiji Sports Media Symposium in Suva, Maharaj said journalists need to understand the intricacies of a particular sport as it will enable them to deliver an accurate and balanced report.

“The role of media is a key component of our sporting life and the media plays an important part in promoting the sport but it can also destroy the sport or an individual athlete,” he said.

“Sometimes media basically takes an individual puts them on pedestal so high that there is no foundation and as result of that they fall flat.

“So, it important that there is a balance basically in promoting an individual or the sport.

“And sport need media as much as the media need sport it’s sort of an equal handshake which is important that the media recognises it.

“Sports journalists need to challenge sporting federations and individual athletes on their performance.

“And this is only possible if you do your background research and homework on the particular subject and go ahead with the interviews. Sports need the media to convey the message across to the public and with just the 200 plus followers on Facebook but basically you aim to reach out to the public and inspire someone.”

Maharaj also opposed some questions by young reporters on the specific areas of reporting that needs to be covered.

“As an organisation the Fiji Sports Media Association is doing a great initiative as well as individual media organisations and the question is, are you a learning organisation or basically you have the attitude that nobody is great and that we have the power, money and so forth so we don’t need to know,” he said.

“Are you taking time out to critic the work that you do? How many of you read the Fiji SUN and the Fiji Times. Also, take time out to challenge each other do a much better work which is an ongoing journey.

“You must understand about the sport that you are going to cover and take time out to learn about the in depths of it and it not difficult to Google this day. Also, you need to know what the intricacies of a particular sport are. I have read some stories where I just nod my head and say that’s very little knowledge.”

Maharaj also highlighted the lack of investigative journalism evident in the recent sports reporting which needs to be revived and brought back to the spotlight.

“Media should also deliver a responsible reporting and I think in a large extent investigative journalism is dying out in Fiji which is so sad. Investigative journalism doesn’t mean attacking but it means to be analytical.

“Journalist should not be biased when reporting but be able to get good balance and if writing opinion article you need to write it under opinion.

“And accuracy is the aspect when writing facts in your articles that needs to be an updated one along with appropriate pictures too.”

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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