Fiji has formally put forth its proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, suggesting the town of Savusavu as the location. This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven nations in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit. The decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated to be revealed later this week.
The summit, which commenced today, has already facilitated four pre-summit workshops, where participants addressed several key topics such as strengthening national media associations, improving reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental issues affecting the Pacific region.
An important aspect of this year’s pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, which is being led by femLINKpacific with support from The Asia Foundation. This workshop aims to promote gender balance in media leadership and representation, attracting over 15 participants from various organizations in the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will revolve around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” focusing on how media in the Pacific can adapt to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s critical role in influencing regional media practices and upholding journalistic integrity amid various challenges.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the influence of AI on journalism and the necessity of preserving press freedoms. The summit will culminate in the release of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.