Fiji has made a striking advance in global press freedom, leaping to 24th place in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index from 40th in 2025, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The island nation's overall score rose to 76.76 from 71.20, a rise RSF links to legal and political changes since Sitiveni Rabuka became prime minister in 2022.
In its assessment, RSF said the improvement reflects a tangible easing of pressure on journalists and media outlets. “Pressure exerted on the media by civil and military authorities has eased since the election of Sitiveni Rabuka… in 2022,” the organisation said, naming the repeal of the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) in April 2023 as a pivotal reform. RSF described the MIDA as “draconian and unpopular,” and said its removal marked an important turning point for the sector.
The report contrasts the current trajectory with the media environment between 2006 and 2022, when RSF says press freedom was hampered by restrictive laws, enforcement measures and repeated attacks that created “a climate of fear and self-censorship.” It cites past use of legal provisions, including sedition laws, against outlets such as the Fiji Times, and alleges authorities employed discriminatory advertising practices that effectively blackmailed some media into editorial restraint.
RSF’s index points to progress across several indicators, but the organisation stressed that significant challenges remain. Financial sustainability for news organisations is a central concern; while legal barriers have been reduced, many outlets still struggle economically in a competitive, fragmented media market defined by linguistic and cultural diversity. RSF also highlighted journalist safety as an ongoing issue, noting that sexual harassment of women working in the industry remains widespread.
The report urged continued policy and institutional support to lock in gains, saying further protections for media independence and measures to assist journalists financially and in terms of safety will be crucial. RSF warned that without sustained commitment to transparency and accountability from public authorities and other stakeholders, the recent improvements could stall.
Fiji’s marked rise in the 2026 index provides an internationally recognised measure of progress following the government’s early reforms, but RSF’s findings make clear that the story is not yet complete. The organisation’s recommendations frame the next phase as one of consolidation: protecting newly restored freedoms while addressing the structural and cultural barriers—economic fragility and harassment—that still undermine a fully free and resilient press.