Fiji has formally expressed interest in hosting the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing Savusavu as the location for the event. This announcement was made as over 70 media professionals from seven countries gather in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit. The decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week.
The summit, which officially begins today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops where participants have tackled essential topics such as bolstering national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental issues in the Pacific region.
A significant component of this year’s pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation. This initiative aims to improve gender balance in media leadership and representation and 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 upholding journalistic integrity amid these challenges.
Throughout the week, attendees will investigate the implications of AI in journalism and the necessity of preserving press freedoms. The summit will conclude with the unveiling of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.