Over 70 media professionals from various Pacific nations have gathered in Niue for the Seventh Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit. Delegates from seven countries, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Australia, and New Zealand, are participating in this week-long event, which will be officially inaugurated by the speaker of the Niuean Assembly, Hima Douglas.
Stanley Simpson, general-secretary of the Fiji Media Association, emphasized the significance of the summit as a vital platform for media and journalists in the region. He stated, “The PINA Summit is crucial for setting directions and raising awareness about the issues we encounter.” Simpson reflected on the numerous challenges faced by media outlets across the Pacific and expressed the aim of fostering solidarity amongst them.
Looking ahead to the summit discussions, Simpson highlighted his eagerness to address the evolving landscape of journalism, including emerging technologies and the task of maintaining journalistic values in these changing times.
Makereta Komai, PINA manager and organizing committee member, outlined several key issues to be explored during the summit. “Press freedom is a significant topic, particularly since the Fijian media has grappled with this for many years,” Komai noted. She also mentioned the influence of geopolitical interests and the need to assess how powerful nations in the region might affect media operations.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Charting a Resilient Future: Navigating Media Freedom, Artificial Intelligence, and Geo-Political Interests.”