Pacific media must remain independent, responsible and innovative to ensure communities are informed, connected and able to have their voices heard across the Blue Pacific.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made the comments while officially opening the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu.
He says the summit theme, “Reaching the Remote – Media and Digital Innovation for a Connected Blue Pacific”, reflects the need to use technology to bridge the vast distances between Pacific island communities.
Rabuka says digital innovation can give people in remote communities the opportunity to have their voices heard at national, regional and global levels, and no community should be left unheard.
He says constructive Pacific journalism does not mean less independent journalism.
Rabuka says journalists must remain fearless and questioning, ask difficult questions, investigate issues and hold institutions accountable.
He says where evidence warrants it, the media must expose corruption, abuse of power and failures in public administration, as this strengthens democracy.
Rabuka also highlighted the Government’s repeal of the Media Industry Development Act, saying a strong democracy needs a media that is free to question, investigate, challenge and inform.
He says the Government has also opened public service broadcasting to a wider range of media organisations.
Rabuka says responsible journalism is even more important in the digital age, where information can travel across the world within seconds.
He says headlines can spread before they are verified, while false and misleading claims can spread before the truth catches up.
He says artificial intelligence, synthetic content and digital manipulation are creating new challenges for journalists and making professional standards more important than ever.
Rabuka says citizens must also develop media literacy and learn to question what they see and hear, while journalists must continue to verify information.
He highlighted the Government’s Sautu Counter Disinformation Framework, launched at the Ministry of Information’s Innovative Government Communications Conference in March this year.
Rabuka says the framework is intended to strengthen public trust, safeguard democratic institutions and improve Fiji’s capacity to identify and respond to false, misleading and deliberately manipulative information.
He acknowledged the support of the British Government in the initiative.
Rabuka says governments cannot build resilient information environments on their own and there is a need for professional journalists, strong newsrooms, media-literate citizens and greater cooperation across the Pacific.
He says connectivity is not only about technology, but also about development, inclusion and resilience.
Rabuka says reliable information can save lives during cyclones, floods and other disasters, while media can help connect isolated communities with the rest of the country and the region.
He also stressed the importance of Pacific media telling the region’s own stories.
Rabuka says the Pacific is facing challenges including climate change, poverty, inequality, economic pressures and transnational crime, but people in the region are more than statistics.
He says journalists must reach remote communities, document the lives of people across the Pacific and take their stories beyond the region.
Rabuka says the Pacific should not only be spoken about, but must also speak for itself.
He also announced the establishment of the Pacific Centre for Communications and Journalism through a partnership between the Fiji National University and the Fijian Media Association.
He says the centre will focus on professional training, research, regional cooperation and developing the next generation of Pacific media leaders.
This will include digital journalism, media literacy and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Rabuka says the objective is to build a media sector that is independent, professional, credible and trusted, while being able to adapt to new technology without losing core journalism standards.
He is calling on governments, media organisations, civil society, academia, development partners and regional media networks to work together.
Rabuka says disagreement is a normal part of democracy and should lead to dialogue, better questions, better information and better decisions.
He says Pacific media is not simply an observer of the Ocean of Peace vision, but is part of building it through independent journalism, digital innovation and professional integrity.
