Fiji has officially launched its bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing the town of Savusavu as the venue. This announcement coincides with over 70 media professionals from seven nations gathering in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. A decision regarding the host country for the 2026 summit is anticipated later this week.
The event, which begins today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops. Key topics discussed include bolstering national media associations, public finance management reporting, and addressing 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 and supported by The Asia Foundation. This initiative seeks to improve gender balance in media leadership and representation and has attracted over 15 participants from various organizations throughout the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will center around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” focusing on how Pacific media can adjust to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s critical role in influencing regional media and upholding journalistic integrity amidst these challenges.
During the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the necessity of protecting press freedoms. The summit will culminate in the publication of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” succeeded by the PINA Annual General Meeting.