Fiji Calls for Increased Media Investment in Pacific Region

The Pacific Islands Media Association (PINA) Media Summit 2024 officially began yesterday in Niue with Fiji's media landscape front and centre, as stakeholders discussing the evolving challenges and potential solutions to secure the future of journalism in the Pacific.

Speaking as a panellist in Plenary Session 1 on Navigating Media Resilience Fijian Media Association (FMA) general-secretary and Mai TV director Stanley Simpson highlighted critical challenges facing Fiji's media sector and the broader Pacific including dealing with political pressure and most recently rapid changes in technology, and growing concerns around mental health in the industry.

Turning points

One of the biggest turning points for Fiji's media came after the 2006 coup. Journalists and editors found themselves under intense government scrutiny, with some even detained or silenced.

For many in the industry, this was a harsh reminder of the dangers they faced while trying to keep the public informed.

"It was a very difficult time," shared Mr Simpson who experienced the era firsthand.

"We had to be careful with every story we published. There was always that fear of getting a call or a visit from someone in power."

Alongside political challenges, Fiji's media had to adapt to the digital age. As more people tur ned to social media and online news, traditional media like print newspapers and TV faced a drop in readership and revenue. This forced many media outlets to rethink how they reached their audiences.

"For a long time, we relied on print, radio, and TV. But suddenly, everything was online. We had to move fast to keep up," Mr Simpson said.

To stay afloat, many media out lets have had to get creative. Some have started producing content specifically for digital platforms, while others are looking for funding from international donors to support their operations.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to pivot quickly," Mr Simpson said highlighting Mai TV's experience.

"We started focusing on social media, posting updates and videos because that's where the audience was. It was tough, but it showed us how adaptable we can be."

But despite these challenges, the media community is finding ways to adapt and push forward.

An illustration of navigating media resilience. Illustrator: Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu

Proposal

Mr Simpson proposed that stronger alliances and better access to international funding could help Pacific media navigate these challenges.

He suggested that regional media associations should work together to create unified talking points when engaging with donors, a practice FMA operates by.

"I'm hoping to talk with other media associations here in other regions, and work forward, we can have the same talking points across the Pacific," he said.

Georgina Kekea, Editor of Tavuli News and PINA Board Member, moderated the session. The panellists included Kora Nou, managing director of NBC PNG and president of PINA, Irene Liu, regional director of the International Fund for Public Interest Media, and Mary Louise Callaghan, project manager for Transparent Pacific.

The summit is currently taking place at the Scenic Matavai Resort, niue and will conclude on Thursday (local time).

■ Lavenia Lativerata is the Women in Media Fiji Coordinator and a Senior Journalist at MaiTV.

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