Fiji has officially submitted its proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, suggesting Savusavu as the venue. This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven countries in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit. A decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week.
The summit officially begins today and has already featured four pre-summit workshops. Discussions have focused on key topics such as enhancing national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and addressing emerging issues related to climate and the environment in the Pacific.
A highlight of this year’s pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation, aimed at improving gender balance in media leadership and representation. This session has attracted over 15 participants from various organizations across the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will center around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” with panels discussing how Pacific media can adapt to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s significance in shaping regional media and preserving journalistic integrity amid these challenges.
Throughout the week, participants will investigate the influence of AI in journalism and the necessity of protecting press freedoms. The summit will conclude with the publication of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.