Fiji has achieved its highest-ever position in the World Press Freedom Index, ranking 24th out of 180 countries, with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) saying pressure on the media has eased since Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka took office.
Fiji has risen from 102nd in 2022 to 24th in the latest World Press Freedom Index, improving from 40th in 2025 with its score increasing from 71.20 to 76.76.
Fiji has also recorded strong results across the individual measures used by RSF, including ranking 10th in the world for the safety of journalists.
RSF says after 16 years of recurring attacks on press freedom by former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, pressure exerted on the media by civil and military authorities has eased since the election of Sitiveni Rabuka as head of the Republic of Fiji in 2022.
They say the repeal of the draconian and unpopular Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) in April 2023 is an important step forward.
RSF further says until recently, authorities used discriminatory advertising practices to blackmail the media, withholding ads and legal notices from those regarded as critical of the government.
They say for example, at the height of the pandemic, under the former FijiFirst government, the then pro-government Fiji Sun benefited from a preferential advertising allocation at the expense of its rival, the Fiji Times.
RFS says the latter was also banned from distribution in several parts of the country in 2020 on the grounds that “the press is a non-essential service”.
They also say journalists’ interests are represented by the Fijian Media Association, which was often critical of the harassment of the media by the previous FijiFirst government.
RFS says since the repeal of the Media Act in 2023, the FMA has worked hard to restore independent journalism and public trust in the media.
They say in March 2024, research published in Journalism Practice found that sexual harassment of women journalists was widespread and needed to be addressed to protect media freedom and quality journalism.
Meanwhile, the Government says they remain committed to protecting media freedom and freedom of expression and ensuring that a free and independent media continues to play its important role in Fiji’s democracy.
