Fiji has submitted an official bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing Savusavu as the venue. This announcement coincides with the gathering of over 70 media professionals from seven countries in Alofi, Niue, for the ongoing 7th PINA Media Summit. A decision regarding the host country for 2026 is anticipated later this week.
The summit, which commenced today, has already featured four pre-summit workshops. Discussions have focused on enhancing national media associations, reporting on public financial management, and addressing climate and environmental trends affecting the Pacific.
A key highlight of this year’s pre-summit activities is the “Women in Media” workshop, organized by femLINKpacific and supported by The Asia Foundation, aimed at promoting gender balance in media leadership and representation. This session attracted over 15 participants from various organizations across the Pacific and Australia.
The main summit is centered on the theme “Navigating Media Resilience: Press Freedoms, AI, and Geopolitical Interests,” with discussions planned on how Pacific media can adapt to technological advancements and external challenges. Stanley Simpson, the general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, underscored PINA’s importance in shaping regional media and upholding journalistic integrity amid these difficulties.
Throughout the week, attendees will delve into the impact of AI on journalism and the critical need to protect press freedoms. The summit will conclude with the release of the “State of the Pacific Media Report,” followed by the PINA Annual General Meeting.