The role of women in the media highlighted during the 7th PINA Media pre-summit discussion, marking a first in the biannual assembly of regional media leaders. Ahead of the upcoming summit in Niue, women journalists from seven Pacific island nations participated in a two-day Power Up program backed by The Asia Foundation.
This year, representatives from Women In Media (WIM) Fiji contributed to the discussions facilitated by femLINK Pacific. WIM Fiji coordinator Lavenia Lativerata emphasized the significance of the event despite it being a side discussion of the larger summit, as it provided a crucial platform for women journalists across the Pacific.
Lativerata stated, “Recognizing the contributions of women journalists in mainstream media and news production is vital.” She added that including this focus in the summit agenda demonstrated its importance and underscored the objectives of the Power Up program, which enabled participants to exchange experiences with fellow female journalists from other Pacific islands.
The workshop presented an opportunity for WIM Fiji to forge connections with other regional journalists and inspire them to establish their own chapters. Lativerata expressed hope that female colleagues from various Pacific island nations would benefit and learn from their experiences, despite differing local conditions.
Reflecting on WIM Fiji’s progress since its formation two years ago, Lativerata acknowledged the significant advancements made with the backing of the Fijian Media Association, which recognized the vital role women play in content creation within Fijian media.
“We acknowledge that our progress is due to the support from our male allies,” she noted. A representative from Women In Media Australia participated in the discussions, taking valuable lessons back to their own chapter.
Additionally, femLINK Pacific’s executive director, Fay Volatabu, described being involved in the PINA Summit as a significant milestone for civil society organizations. She remarked on the landmark nature of the event, which enabled women to propose five key recommendations to present to the PINA Board.