Fiji has formally proposed to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with Savusavu suggested as the location. This announcement comes as over 70 media professionals from seven different countries gather in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. The decision regarding the host nation for 2026 is anticipated to be made later this week.
The summit commenced today and has already featured four pre-summit workshops. Key topics under discussion include the enhancement of national media associations, the management of public finance reporting, and the response to emerging climate and environmental challenges in the Pacific region.
A highlight of the pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop led by femLINKpacific, with support from The Asia Foundation, aimed at promoting gender balance in media leadership and representation. This workshop has attracted over 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 adapt to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s significance in influencing regional media and upholding journalistic integrity in the face of these challenges.
Throughout the week, participants will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the critical nature of protecting press freedoms. The summit will wrap up with the unveiling of the “State of the Pacific Media Report” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.