Corruption continues to be a primary concern for citizens in the Pacific region, with a demand for increased investigative journalism to address the issue. This insight comes from Dipak Bhattarai, the Project Director of BBC Media Action, who shared findings from surveys conducted in Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu. The research indicates that corruption consistently ranks among the top five challenges facing these countries.
Bhattarai pointed out that public perception aligns with data from Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, noting widespread belief in high levels of corruption. Alongside corruption, other pressing issues include job scarcity, cost of living, crime, and security. The community’s consensus emphasizes that media coverage needs to be not only evidence-based but also sustained over time, rather than merely focused on naming and shaming offenders.
“People are frustrated when media raises these issues, but authorities do not take action,” Bhattarai remarked, highlighting the need for thorough investigative reporting, which presents challenges for Pacific newsrooms that often have limited resources. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of journalist protections and access to transparent data essential for safe and effective reporting.
Dr. Shailendra Singh, Head of the Journalism Programme at the University of the South Pacific, reinforced the regional media landscape’s complexities. He acknowledged improvements in Fiji, including the repeal of the Media Industry Development Act, but cautioned that the nation still operates as a transitional democracy where media criticism is not always welcomed. Singh insisted on the necessity of institutional protection for journalists and the prioritization of anti-corruption legislation to ensure accountability.
“While we have achieved media freedom, without supporting frameworks like whistleblower laws and the right to information, journalists cannot fulfill their watchdog role,” he remarked. He also recognized initiatives aimed at bolstering investigative journalism while addressing the challenges faced by newsrooms in the region.
Singh noted the adverse impact of corruption on vulnerable groups, stating, “We cannot address poverty in the Pacific without tackling corruption. The two are closely linked, and history shows both will persist unless leadership commits to accountability and governance.”
Supporting this view, Marie Pegie Cauchois, the UNODC Pacific Head of Office, discussed the positive outcomes from offering small grants through the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network, which aids journalists in investigating corruption in culturally relevant manners. She shared an example of Tongan journalist Kalafi Moala, who received funding to conduct research on electoral gift-giving, leading to the removal of seven MPs from their posts.
Emerging voices in journalism, like Jake Wise from The Fiji Times, echoed the need for better training for young journalists entering the field. “We require greater support and capacity-building because, sooner or later, we will be the ones responsible for covering and exposing corruption,” he expressed.
The discussion concluded with a shared understanding that effective anti-corruption journalism necessitates skilled reporting alongside supportive institutional frameworks to ensure stories drive real change. The commitment to strengthening journalistic practices presents a hopeful path toward greater accountability and the reduction of corruption in the Pacific.
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