Fijileaks
  • Home
  • Archive Home
  • In-depth Analysis
    • BOI Report into George Speight and others beatings
  • Documents
  • Opinion
  • CRC Submissions
  • Features
  • Archive

International journalist body alarmed by regime's plan for media registration in lead-up to September 2014 general election

16/10/2013

7 Comments

 
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins with Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), the regional media monitoring group, in being deeply concerned that requirements proposed by Fiji’s media authority for foreign media trainers, independent journalists and communications workers to register with the authority are a backward step at a time when all sections of the media should be encouraged to report freely in the lead-up to Fiji’s September 2014 general election.

The new chairman of the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA), academic Ashwin Raj, announced on October 8 that MIDA was looking to extend the registration requirements applied to foreign media trainers and organisations. This media training includes issues such as media freedom, democracy, human rights and election reporting.

Raj had initially called for a more open dialogue among Fiji’s media about the the decree under which they work and he talked about helping the media promote a “culture of deep democracy”, including a rejection of self-censorship. But Raj also indicated there would be a wider interpretation of the authority’s powers, extending them to foreign media trainers, organisations that produce their own media and to freelance journalists working in Fiji. Raj said any person or organisations wanting to train or work with the local media must first seek approval from MIDA.

PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea said:

“We are always ready to engage with the Fijian media authority and welcome the call for honest dialogue, but the requirement to register for a whole new section of media workers could discourage the very thing Fiji’s media needs at the moment. The media in Fiji need all the training and moral support they can get as the country prepares for its first general election in eight years in September 2014 under a new Constitution,” Gabi said.

Picture
PFF co-Chair Monica Miller of American Samoa said: “There is no need for another layer of scrutiny in what is already a tightly regulated media environment. While the requirement to register may seem logical for Fiji’s media authority, any extra step in this direction is one more limitation on freedom of expression in a country that is in democratic transition and needs as much openness as possible.

IFJ Asia-Pacific said: “The Media Industry Development Authority has a vital role to play at this important moment in Fiji’s history. The encouragement of open dialogue and the rejection of self-censorship are most welcome. But the suggestion of applying additional restraint on some sections of the media at the precise time when openness and transparency should be encouraged is wrong. We hope MIDA will reconsider its position.” 

Both the IFJ and the PFF are fully prepared to work with MIDA on developing a robust, ethical and free media in Fiji and would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways to cooperatively bring this about.

MIDA stresses it’s not restricting foreign journalists from coming to Fiji
 
The Media Industry Development Authority or MIDA has today stressed that it is not restricting any foreign journalists from coming to Fiji.

While reacting strongly to a statement from the Pacific Freedom Forum, Authority Director, Matai Akauola said the misleading statement is far from the truth.  Akauola said further steps are now being taken but they want the person based in Fiji to declare his interest as the Forum’s statement is misleading. The Pacific Freedom Forum Coordinator in Fiji said they will comment after they see the statement. Source: Fijivillage News

Picture
7 Comments
Stalin
16/10/2013 02:15:18 am

Who is Ashwin Raj? What is his background? What qualifications and experience he has to police and oppress the media and the journalists

Reply
USP Examiner
16/10/2013 02:22:12 am

Ashwin Raj is a failed PhD student - so what else can you expect from this idiot.

And a pal of Aiyaz Khaiyum - just like Satendra Nandan

Reply
International Penpusher
16/10/2013 02:43:51 am

The worst thing is this wannabe Matai Akoula is still on the IFJ Board! Hypocrite and regime stooge of the highest order

Reply
aswin madachod
16/10/2013 03:46:16 am

another typical boci with a sudden exaggerated sense of self importance........sa qai levu ga na boci sa ra qai sosoqoni vata mai

Reply
Censor
16/10/2013 06:14:15 am

Please keep our languages clean of expletives and abusive words - we understand your anger and frustration against these two men who will be asked to account for their actions the day we wrest control back from he regime and give it back to the people

Reply
MIDA
16/10/2013 07:08:55 am

MIDA = Matai Idiot & Drololagi Ashwin?

Reply
Rajesh
16/10/2013 12:24:02 pm

No Media freedom .Regime want to win election and free media plays important role to tell the public the truth refer all the corruption done by regime..
Matai is supporting the regime like Maika Bolatiki.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Contact Email
    ​[email protected]
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012