Fiji has officially submitted a proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with the town of Savusavu suggested as the potential location.
This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven nations who have come together in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. A decision regarding the host for the 2026 summit is anticipated later this week.
The summit, which has commenced today, has already witnessed participants engaging in four pre-summit workshops. Discussions have centered around critical topics such as enhancing national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental issues affecting the Pacific region.
A key highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific with support from The Asia Foundation, focused on promoting gender balance in media leadership and representation. More than 15 participants from various organizations across the Pacific and Australia have joined this session.
The main summit will revolve around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” which will cover how Pacific media can adjust 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 standards in the face of these challenges.
During the week, attendees will examine the impact of AI on journalism and the necessity of protecting press freedoms. The summit is set to conclude with the unveiling of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.