Three years after the repeal of restrictive media laws, the Fijian Media Association (FMA) has hailed a sharp climb in Fiji’s standing on the global press freedom scoreboard — while warning that the gains remain fragile and easily lost. In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day, the FMA noted Fiji rose to 24th in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, up from 40th last year and 84th in 2023.
The Association described the jump as a testament to the resilience of media workers and growing public appreciation for independent journalism. It said the improvement reflects both reforms enacted since the repeal and the daily work of journalists, editors and media staff who continue to hold officials and institutions to account. “This achievement should be attributed not only to the media workers continuing to uphold the values of independent journalism, but to everybody in this country who recognise and defend the importance of a free media for a healthy democracy,” the FMA said.
At the same time, the FMA stressed that progress cannot be taken for granted. The statement warned of ongoing threats to individual media workers and the wider industry, and urged continued vigilance from government, civil society and newsrooms. The association’s warning echoes concerns raised earlier this year when it sought clarity over the detention by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) of former journalist Charlie Charters at Nadi International Airport — an episode that the FMA said underscored the need for transparent legal process and protections for media actors.
The FMA’s commentary came against a sobering international backdrop. RSF’s 2026 index found that more than half the world’s countries are now classified as having “difficult” or “very difficult” conditions for press freedom — the lowest level recorded in the index’s 25-year history. The association said Fiji’s upward movement demonstrates what is possible when restrictive rules are rolled back and when there is collective support for independent reporting, but it cautioned that global trends remain worrying.
To consolidate gains, the FMA called for sustained legal safeguards, stronger protections for journalists from intimidation or undue legal action, and continued public engagement with the value of independent media. The association said reforms alone are not enough unless accompanied by consistent application of the rule of law and institutional respect for press freedom.
As the country marks World Press Freedom Day, the FMA urged stakeholders to treat the RSF rise as a milestone rather than a finish line. While celebrating the progress since the 2023 repeal of restrictive media laws, the association warned that vigilance and practical measures will be needed to protect and deepen the freedoms that underpinned this recent improvement.