Balance, fairness, accountability, transparency and impartiality are some of the guiding principles for the media organizations in the country.
A call has been made by the Pacific Freedom Forum for Fijian journalists to continue to follow these principles when providing news coverage following the gazetting of the State Proceedings Amendment Decree, which gives legal protection to the media for publishing any comments from the Prime Minister and government ministers until the next parliament comes in.
Lisa Williams Lahari said the journalists should continue to follow their ethics and not do one-sided stories based on the legal immunity provided for statements from the Prime Minister and ministers.
Lahari has told Radio New Zealand that it will also be interesting during the next election campaign period in Fiji as the decree will still be in effect.
Meanwhile the Fiji Media Watch said media outlets should be responsible and abide by their media code of ethics.
The Fiji Media watch had made a statement yesterday that it welcomed the decree stating that this should facilitate open and frank discussions between the government and stakeholders while also giving members of the public an opportunity to share their views that are affecting them.
However the decree is clear that media organizations are only protected for publication of statements by the Prime Minister and ministers.
Fiji Media Watch Director Agatha Furivai said the onus is on the media organizations to ensure fair and balanced reporting.
Furivai also said that the relevant parties or members of the public should be able to express their views or response.
Under the decree no one can go to any court, tribunal or adjudicating body and take legal action against the Prime Minister or the ministers for any public statements they make in their official or personal capacity.
The media will also be protected and no one can take legal action against any media outlet that prints or broadcasts any comments from the Prime Minister and ministers.
The decree is already in effect.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Sofaia Koroitanoa
