Fiji has formally put forward its candidacy to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing Savusavu as the venue.
This announcement comes as more than 70 media professionals from seven different countries gather 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 commencing today, has already seen participants take part in four pre-summit workshops. Key topics under discussion include strengthening national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental challenges in the Pacific.
A significant highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific with support from The Asia Foundation, aimed at promoting 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,” focusing on how Pacific media can adapt to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored the importance of PINA 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 need to protect press freedoms. The summit will conclude with the unveiling of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.