Be steadfast, compete, support each other and guard your ethics, editors and executives of the Fijian Media Association reminded their fellow colleagues this evening in Suva, at an event marking World Press Freedom Day and the launch of the FMA Press Club logo.
Held at the Albert Park pavilion, with the support of the Australian High Commission, the event was preceded by the observance of a minute’s silence to remember media colleagues who have passed on and whose contributions helped build the foundations of Fijian media in the early days and the thriving grouping that the FMA is now.
AHC deputy secretary Paul Wilson was on hand to unveil the logo alongside some FMA executives.
FMA General Secretary Stanley Simpson reminded colleagues that media freedom is essential in a democracy, and as such acknowledged each journalist for their courage and commitment to the work despite the environment they work in where they are under “great stress and scrutiny, under the harsh glare and spotlight of a critical often unforgiving public.”
Communications Fiji Limited News Director Vijay Narain encouraged members of the media that whilst they work together and support each other, that they should be competitive “because that will bring the best out of us.”
Veteran journalist and Manager of Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Makereta Komai paid tribute to colleagues past and present, highlighting also the need to support women journalists .
Fiji Television Head of News Dreu Vukailagi and Fiji Live editor Reginald Chandar re-emphasised the importance of the work that journalists do in light of the forthcoming 2022 General Elections when Fiji heads to the polls to select the administration to take the country forward over the next four years.
event was also attended by communications specialists, majority of whom had worked in mainstream media as well as student journalists studying at the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific.
