Fiji has formally put forward its proposal to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, suggesting Savusavu as the potential location. This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven nations in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit.
A decision on the selection of the 2026 host country is anticipated later this week. Although the summit officially commences today, participants have already engaged in four pre-summit workshops focusing on critical subjects such as enhancing national media associations, reporting on public finance management, and tackling emerging climate and environmental issues in the Pacific.
A significant aspect of this year’s pre-summit is the “Women in Media” workshop, which is led by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation, aimed at improving gender representation and leadership within the media sector. This session has attracted over 15 participants from various organizations throughout the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit will revolve around the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” with discussions centered on how Pacific media can evolve in response to technological advancements and external pressures. Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, highlighted PINA’s critical role in shaping 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 necessity of protecting press freedoms. The summit will wrap up with the publication of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.