Fiji has submitted an official bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, with Savusavu being proposed as the location. This announcement was made as more than 70 media professionals from seven nations gathered in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit.
The decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated to be made later this week. The summit, which formally begins today, has already included four pre-summit workshops where participants have discussed crucial topics such as bolstering national media associations, effective reporting on public finance management, and confronting emerging climate and environmental issues within the Pacific region.
A significant highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, which is led by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation. This initiative aims to promote gender equity in media leadership and representation and 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,” with discussions focused on how Pacific media can adjust to technological advancements and external influences. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, stressed PINA’s importance in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic integrity in the face of these challenges.
During the week, attendees will delve into the role of AI in journalism and highlight the significance of protecting press freedoms. The summit is set to conclude with the presentation of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.