The meeting between the Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the Chairman of the Fiji Media Council, Daryl Tarte and Managers, News Directors and Editors of the mainstream media has ended with discussions based on non-bias, accurate and balanced reporting.
Daily Post General Manager, Mesake Koroi stressed that it was a good meeting, where the Interim Government raised some issues about the media.
Communications Fiji Limited News Director, Vijay Narayan stressed that they were not told that the media would not be allowed to report on certain stories.
Pacific Islands News Association Chief Executive, Matai Akaoula said it was a session where strong views were raised from both sides with possible meetings being held every month.
However, Fiji Times Editor, Netani Rika did not want to reveal what happened in the meeting.
Fiji Media Council Daryl Tarte also had no comment to make on the meeting.
At the meeting the Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama reiterated the government's stand on media freedom as a Constitutional obligation of the state.
Bainimarama said the purpose of the meeting is to allay fears that the Interim Government is proceeding to exercise some control of the media.
However he said with any freedom also comes responsibility adding that partisan agendas, cultural insensitivity and deliberate distortions in media reporting can do untold damage to the fabric of a nation and indeed have unfortunate repercussions.
Bainimarama also added the Interim Government in a show of its commitment towards media and press freedom values a relationship based on a health working rapport, transparency, accessibility and accountability, also requesting the media co-operate and assist the interim government in rebuilding and moving the nation forward.
This meeting comes three days after the deportation of Fiji Times Publisher, Evan Hannah.
Feature
Media Meet With Interim PM
