Fiji has officially put forward a proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with Savusavu suggested as the venue.
This announcement comes as over 70 media professionals from seven nations gather in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. The host country for the 2026 summit is expected to be announced later this week.
The summit, which officially kicks off today, has already engaged participants in four pre-summit workshops. Key topics under discussion include the strengthening of national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental issues facing the Pacific.
A significant aspect of this year’s pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific with support from The Asia Foundation, aimed at promoting gender balance in media leadership and representation. This workshop has attracted more than 15 participants from various organizations across the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will revolve around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” focusing on how Pacific media can respond to technological advancements and external challenges. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s vital role in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic standards amid these complexities.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the crucial importance of protecting press freedoms. The event will wrap up with the launch of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.