Fiji has officially put forward a bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing Savusavu as the location for the event. This announcement coincided with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven nations in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit. A decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week.
The summit commenced today after participants engaged in four pre-summit workshops. Topics discussed have included the strengthening of national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and addressing the emerging climate and environmental trends affecting the Pacific region.
This year’s pre-summit features a significant “Women in Media” workshop, led by femLINKpacific with support from The Asia Foundation, aimed at promoting gender equality in media leadership and representation. The session 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 adapt to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s vital role in shaping regional media and preserving journalistic integrity in the face of these challenges.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the critical importance of protecting press freedoms. The summit is set to conclude with the publication of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.