Fiji has formally submitted a bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing the town of Savusavu as the hosting venue. This announcement comes as over 70 media professionals from seven countries gather in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. The decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week.
The summit officially begins today and has kicked off with participants engaging in four pre-summit workshops. Significant topics under discussion include the fortification of national media associations, effective reporting on public finance management, and addressing emerging climate and environmental issues prevalent in the Pacific region.
A notable addition to this year’s pre-summit agenda is the “Women in Media” workshop, facilitated by femLINKpacific and backed by The Asia Foundation, which seeks to promote gender equality 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 adapt to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s critical role in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic values amid these challenges.
During the week, participants will delve into the implications of AI on journalism and the significance of protecting press freedoms. The summit is set to conclude with the release of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.