Fiji has formally expressed its intention to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with Savusavu identified as the proposed location. This announcement was made during the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit in Alofi, Niue, which has gathered more than 70 media professionals from seven different countries.
The choice of the host country for the 2026 summit is anticipated to be revealed later this week. The summit, which commences officially today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops focusing on critical topics such as enhancing national media associations, effective reporting on public finance management, and confronting emerging climate and environmental issues in the Pacific.
A significant highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation. This initiative aims to promote gender equity in media leadership and increase representation, attracting over 15 participants from various organizations across the Pacific and Australia.
The central theme of the main summit is “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests.” Participants will engage in discussions on how Pacific media can adjust to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s vital role in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic integrity in the face of these challenges.
Throughout the week, attendees will analyze the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and the crucial need to preserve press freedoms. The event will wrap up with the unveiling of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.