Fiji has officially put forth a proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, suggesting Savusavu as the event location. This announcement arrives as more than 70 media professionals from seven countries gather in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit. The host country for 2026 is expected to be decided later this week.
The summit, which has commenced today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops. Topics of discussion have included efforts to enhance national media associations, insights into public finance management reporting, and strategies for addressing emerging climate and environmental issues in the Pacific region.
An important aspect of this pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, coordinated by femLINKpacific and backed by The Asia Foundation, aimed at improving gender equality in media leadership and representation. This session has attracted over 15 participants from various organizations throughout the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will center around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests.” Discussions will focus on how Pacific media can respond to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s pivotal role in influencing regional media and upholding journalistic integrity in the face of these challenges.
Throughout the week, participants will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the critical need to protect press freedoms. The summit will conclude with the publication of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.