Fiji has officially submitted its application to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with Savusavu suggested as the location for the event. This announcement coincides with the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit in Alofi, Niue, where more than 70 media professionals from seven different countries are gathering.
The decision regarding the host country for the 2026 summit is anticipated later this week. The summit began today, following four pre-summit workshops attended by participants. Important topics covered during these workshops include the strengthening of national media associations, the reporting of public finance management, and strategies to tackle emerging climate and environmental issues in the Pacific region.
One of the highlights of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, which is facilitated by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation. This workshop is designed to promote gender equality in media leadership and representation, attracting over 15 participants from organizations throughout the Pacific and Australia.
The central theme of the main summit will be “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests.” Discussions will focus on how Pacific media can adjust to technological advancements and external challenges. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s essential role in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic integrity in these testing times.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the significance of protecting press freedoms. The summit will wrap up with the release of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.