Journalism is the oxygen of democracy and Fiji now has true democracy as the people are able to share freely and their positions no longer hidden under ambiguity.
This was highlighted by the Fiji deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Manoa Kamikamica while officiating the 2024 Pacific Media Conference in Suva today.
“We pride ourselves on a government that tries to listen, and hopefully we can try and chart a way forward in terms of media freedom and journalism in the Pacific, and most importantly, Fiji. They say that journalism is the oxygen of democracy, and that could be no truer than in the case of Fiji.”
The Deputy Prime Minister says one of the proudest moments in his short political history was actually the repeal of the Media Industry Development Authority Decree.
Kamikamica said the Fiji Media Council was launched a few months ago, and it meant that it was not the Government’s job to tell the media what to write or do; it was best left to the professionals.
He said he hopes this is a new journey forward, and there is also a need for continued capacity building.
The Deputy Prime Minister further says that universities have played a role over the years in politics as they get involved in both research and advocating democratic freedom.
He said they are now in a position to really accelerate the strength of journalism in our nation.
Over 100 participants are attending the three-day conference, which concludes on Saturday.
