Media freedom a continuing battle, says academic

Final-year journalism students with teaching staff and prominent lawyer and former journalist, Richard Naidu during the USP Journalism Programme’s 2018 World Press Freedom Day celebration at the AusAid Performance Space today. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

“WORLD Press Freedom Day is a reminder that we can never take media freedom for granted. Media freedom can never be perfect, it is a continuing battle not just in Fiji but in developing regions,” says USP Journalism Programme co-ordinator Dr Shailendra Singh.

Moderating a panel discussion on the theme, ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law – Contemporary Challenges for Ensuring Press Freedom Online’, which featured final-year journalism students, Dr Singh said even developed countries such as Australia and New Zealand have to deal with issues of media freedom.

“We understand national security concerns especially a multiethnic society like Fiji with a history of coups and ethnic tensions,” he said.

“But the problem is, the sweeping nature of some of the legislations and the punitive measures make it very risky for journalists to do their jobs properly.

William Waqavakatoga raises a question for the panelists during the USP Journalism Programme’s World Press Freedom Day celebration at the AusAid Performance Space at the Laucala campus today. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF

“If journalists cannot function effectively for one reason or the other, it opens the door to abuse and corruption at the expense of citizens and taxpayers.”

Wansolwara student editors Carolyn Kitione and Koroi Tadulala from Fiji joined Elizabeth Osifelo from the Solomon Islands and Telstar Jimmy from Vanuatu for a discussion on the role of the media as a watchdog in society as well as the challenges journalists face in their countries.

The discussions covered a wide range of issues such as media and the transparency of the political process, the independence and media literacy of the judicial system, the accountability of state institutions towards the public and contemporary challenges of ensuring press freedom online.

USP Journalism staff members also participated in the World Press Freedom Day Editor’s Forum organised by the Fijian Media Association at the Fiji Times Ltd conference room in Suva.

The Fijian Media Association held an early morning Zumba session before the editor’s forum and concluded the celebration with a networking cocktail.