Media Warned of AI Risks, Need to Uphold Independence
The AI era comes as the industry deals with other pressing challenges post-Media Industry Development Act 2010.
Sunday 11 May 2025 | 08:30
Updated 08 August 2025 | 15:44 FJT
The Fijian Media Association celebrates World Press Freedom Day around the theme “AI and the Future of Journalism in Fiji” on May 8, 2025 at the Suva Civic Centre. Photo: Jernese Macanawai British High Commissioner to Fiji, Brian Jones. Photo: Jernese
As the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools expands in Fiji’s media landscape, journalists have been urged to exercise caution.
The Fijian Media Association (FMA) celebrated World Press Freedom Day 2025 on Thursday at the Suva Civic Centre to reflect on the impact of AI.
From content creation to greater productivity and efficiency, AI tools offer new and exciting opportunities for journalism.
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However, they also present significant ethical challenges that, if ignored, could undermine the integrity of the media industry in Fiji, warned FMA president Rosi Doviverata.
Ms Doviverata, who is the Fiji Sun acting publisher and chief executive officer, said: “AI introduces concerns about hallucinations, deep fakes, automated misinformation and potential new forms of control that could, again, undermine the hard-won press freedoms we now cherish.
“We must ensure that AI strengthens, rather than weakens our independent journalism, journalism that remains essential to holding power accountable in our democracy.”
Meanwhile, FMA general-secretary Stanley Simpson emphasised the need to ensure authentic Fijian storytelling is not lost in the AI wave transforming newsrooms worldwide.
“Don’t let AI take over our unique sovereignty and voices,” he said.
“We can use it as a tool, but at the same time, we’ve got to master it and make sure our genuine Fijian voices stand out.”
The AI era comes as the industry deals with other pressing challenges post-Media Industry Development Act 2010.
Mr Simpson, who is Mai TV director, said on Monday, that given the loss of their audience and revenue, it became almost financially unviable for some Fijian media outlets to operate.
“Some media organisations in Fiji are often one to two months away from closing down. We barely survived the past 16 years while many media organisations in places such as New Zealand (TV3, NewsHub) have closed down,” he said.
“It’s hard to deliver good journalism when you’re barely staying afloat as a business and trying to survive economically.”
Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj
