Fiji has made an official bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing the town of Savusavu as the venue for the event. This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven nations in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit.
A decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week. The summit, which officially commences today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops where participants have discussed various crucial topics. Key issues on the agenda include strengthening national media associations, effectively reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental challenges faced in the Pacific region.
This year’s pre-summit also highlights a workshop focused on “Women in Media,” facilitated by femLINKpacific and backed by The Asia Foundation. The workshop aims to promote gender balance in media leadership and representation, attracting over 15 participants from organizations across the Pacific and Australia.
The primary summit will concentrate on the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests.” Discussions will revolve around how Pacific media can adjust to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s significance in shaping regional media and preserving journalistic principles amid these challenges.
Throughout the summit week, participants will delve into the implications of AI in journalism and the crucial need to protect press freedoms. The event will wrap up with the release of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.