The Government has today announced that the Media Industry development Decree is now promulgated and come into effect immediately and is now ensures that all media outlets in Fiji are 90 percent locally owned.
This would have a major effect on the Fiji Times which is 100 percent foreign owned.
While making the announcement this afternoon, Attorney General and Minister for Communication Aiyaz Sayed-Khiayum revealed that the Fiji Times which is 100 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited has been given three months from today to ensure they comply with the provisions of the decree.
Sayed Khaiyum said changes have been made to the draft following nationwide consultations.
The only change made to the ownership of media outlets under the decree is that the owners or shareholders in the media outlet must have resided in Fiji three to seven years before they become shareholders or they should have lived in Fiji at least 6 out of the 12 months in a year.
Also under the decree, the fines for journalists have been substantially reduced.
Any media outlet which breaches the provisions of the decree is liable for penalties.
The journalist would face fines not exceeding $1000 while the publisher faces fines not exceeding $25,000 and the Medias organisation faces fines not exceeding $100,000.
There will be no criminal application to the journalist under the decree.
An investigation into the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of Barbara Malimali as the Commissioner of FICAC has commence...
2 hours ago
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at 7 tonight.
The show will focus on several ...
47 minutes ago
Exciting times lie ahead for Fiji rugby fans as we await what Coach, Mick Byrne has in store for the Fiji Water Flying Fijians with his multiple ...
1 hour ago
Villagers of Naviavia and students of St Paul Primary School in Wailevu West, Cakaudrove will improve their daily living conditions and enhance their ...
2 hours ago
Savings and life insurance are not part of the culture of many people and women must adopt the savings culture so that there’s financial awareness ...
2 hours ago
Local music group Ciwa Music Fiji, made up of artists Peni Roqara also known as Ju Ben, Asinate Mekemeke, and Aisea Buliruarua, are thrilled and ...
2 hours ago
Top journalists, media workers, civil society voices, and regional delegates meeting in Suva for the inaugural Women in Media Conference 2025.
4 hours ago
The show focuses on the gaps in Fiji’s education system and what needs to be done, the pressure on committee run schools to keep the schools ...
5 days ago