Fiji has submitted a bid to host the 2026 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit, proposing the town of Savusavu as the venue. The announcement comes as over 70 media professionals gather in Alofi, Niue, for the 7th PINA Media Summit.
This was confirmed by PINA board member and Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley after a board meeting in Niue yesterday, where the 7th PINA Media Summit is currently being held.
Fiji hopes to host the summit in Savusavu, offering a “unique experience” for delegates. “We are really looking forward to welcoming participants from across the Pacific,” Wesley stated.
The decision on the 2026 host will be made later this week.
Wesley emphasized PINA’s crucial role in developing journalists throughout the region, noting that PINA has been involved in initiatives like repealing Fiji’s Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) and focusing on training young journalists. He stressed that PINA’s efforts continue to empower the region’s media professionals to uphold journalism’s core values.
Key discussions at this year’s summit include strengthening national media associations, reporting on public finance, and addressing climate trends in the Pacific. A new addition to the pre-summit workshops was the “Women in Media” session, which aimed to promote gender balance in media leadership, attracting over 15 participants from across the Pacific and Australia.
Stanley Simpson, general secretary of the Fijian Media Association, expressed the significance of PINA in fostering regional media resilience and protecting press freedoms, especially in the face of emerging technologies like AI.
The Media Summit ends September 26.
Source: Fiji Sun / Times
