Submissions not clear cut

The submissions received on the independence of the Fiji Media Council have not been as clear cut.

The report on the review of the Fiji Media Council which has just been released has highlighted that the Council represents both the media industry and the general public and therefore needs to be seen as an independent voice.

Some submissions received by the review team have argued that the Fiji Media Council has appeared too frequently to be partisan of the media industry and not truly independent, however others argued that the Media Council needs to do more to advocate for freedom of communication.

But the review report has found the Media Council has maintained a proper relationship with the Government adding that it made strong comments when it has seen threats to press freedom emerging from the Government.

Fiji Media Council Chairman Daryl Tarte said a committee has been set up to go through the report after which the Council will make comments regarding all the issues.