Fiji has officially put forth a bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, suggesting Savusavu as the potential location. This declaration arrives as over 70 media professionals from seven countries gather in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit, which officially kicks off today.
The host country for the 2026 summit will be announced later this week. Prior to the main event, participants have already taken part in four pre-summit workshops. Key topics during these sessions include strengthening national media associations, improving reporting on public finance management, and addressing emerging climate and environmental issues in the Pacific.
A highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation, aimed at fostering gender balance in media leadership and representation. This workshop has attracted over 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 adjust to technological advancements and outside influences. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, stressed PINA’s crucial role in guiding regional media and upholding journalistic principles amid these challenges.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the significance 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.