The Fiji Times 152 years of existence in Fiji has been hailed by readers here and abroad.
A small step that was taken towards printing news in the Old Capital has today turned into a media brand which is reliable and followed by thousands of Fijians. Established in Levuka on September 4, 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, The Fiji Times is Fiji’s oldest newspaper still operating.
The most prominent newspaper in Fiji, The Fiji Times, has a rich history and legacy, and it has covered major events in Fiji from the Deed of Cession to Fiji’s in- dependence, the world wars, the 1959 riots in Suva, the 1987, 2000 and 2006 coups, the devastation caused by natural disasters, and major sporting events like the Olympic Games, world cup soccer and rugby and the Pacific Games.
Through its coverage, The Fiji Times has brought sporting events to life. The Fiji Times continues with the great work that the late Griffiths started, and The Fiji Times continues to uphold the ideals and ethics of good journalism.
I searched through internet, and I came across the book titled Brief History of The Fiji Times, and I quote these lines, “The Fiji Times had its humble beginnings in Levuka in 1869.
The founder, George Littleton Griffi ths, published the fi rst paper on September. 4 Sir Len Usher later described him as a “remarkable man by any standards, and a pio- neer of the type that helps to mould sturdy nations”.
Before the cession of Fiji to the Queen there was no government structure or services. Mr Griffiths then set up a mail service which he called the Fiji Times Express which would enable mail delivery not only locally, but internationally as well to Australia, New Zealand, England and US.
When the capital was moved to Suva by the Cakobau government, he set up the Suva Times and delayed the inevitable of moving the headquarters to Suva.
This was when he utilised the pigeon service in 1884. To maintain contact and news delivery between the two offices the pigeon was used to journey between the two offices in 30 minutes. They even had lofts built into the buildings to cater for this new form of transport.
“I also read an article which was published in The Fiji Times by Matilda Simmons on August 26 2018, and I wish to share these lines: “When The Fiji Times began printing, a pigeon post was erected for messages to be sent via the birds from the old town to Suva. Messages like ship- ping news and general messages were often sent across the postal link between the two main centres of Suva and Levuka.
The use of pigeons as carriers of message is old as the ancient Persians who were known to have perfected the art of training the birds. It was said the Romans used pigeon messengers to aid their military over 2000 years ago. Research further revealed Julius Caesar once used pigeons as messengers in his conquest of Gaul and the Greeks sent the names of the victors at the Olympic Games to their various cities by using the pigeons. This form of message service carried on down through the centuries and was practised by the Fiji Times proprietors.
On January 22 1887, The Fiji Times reported on the ease of being able to get news from Levuka using the pigeon post and it was greatly welcomed”.
Great piece of history Today, The Fiji Times has headlines which are strong, and the front page sets the plat- form for the rest of the pages. Local news covers events and happenings around Fiji. The Fiji Times covers events from Parliament House to events that affect lives of ordinary Fijians. Stories involving hard- ships faced by Fijians have also featured strongly. Furthermore, articles and stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been shared in a professional and neutral way.
The stories feature pictures for better understanding.
The editorial page never fails to impress, and readers enjoy the apt and to the point editorials. In addition, the letters to the editor column is perhaps one of the most-read columns.
The column, which started off with one page, has now been expanded to cater for the many wide range of letters that fill pages eight and nine of The Fiji Times from Monday to Friday and Sunday.
Saturday’s The Fiji Times has about seven pages of letters to the editor. These letters feature opinions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, state of roads, complaints regarding services, congratulatory messag-es and socio-economic and political issues.
The next column is the People column, which features ordinary Fijians, who are willing to share the journey to their suc- cess, continues to empower, motivate and inspire ardent readers.
The People column in The Fiji Times is about adding inspiration to the lives of Fijians.
The international news feature is also a vital piece in providing information on what happens around Fiji.
We live in a globalised world and literacy is important. The Fiji Times feature, business and in- side stories are looked forward to.
The Fiji Times wraps up its daily segment with the best local and international sports news. Sports lovers are well equipped with the latest news and stories on football, rugby, hockey, volleyball, netball, cricket and swimming.
Readers of The Fiji Times are rewarded daily with credible news, stories, information and a wide range of letters to the editor to read and ponder on. I count myself lucky, as I’m part of The Fiji Times family.
The wonderful journey that started in the ‘90s when I was in primary school has continued, and I was overwhelmed and thrilled to be invited for the 150th birthday celebration at GPH. That evening gave me a sense of pride and excitement as I rubbed shoulders with renowned journalists and personalities. It was a pleasure meeting Motibhai group of directors.
That night at GPH, Kirit Patel acknowledged the readers of The Fiji Times for their lovely support and elaborated that it was an opportunity to look back and reflect on the history and challenges which The Fiji Times encountered and endured along the way, while bracing for the future.
He paid tribute to George Littleton Griffi ths who founded The Fiji Times. Mr Patel then took the readers through The Fiji Times 150-year old journey.
We were assured about the future of The Fiji Times with these lines: “To this day and going forward trust, fairness and integrity will be the ethos of The Fiji Times as these time- less values have been a linchpin to building the credible, reliable, trusted and respect- ed newspaper that it is today.”
He concluded by thanking everyone for believing in The Fiji Times. Dr Anurag in his melodious tone added glamour to the night and these lines: “And holding the paper was like holding freshly baked bread.
It still felt warm in the hands. And the smell of the ink and newspaper was tantalising.” The editor-in-chief Fred Wesley said, “We are about people”. Wesley shared that The Fiji Times was motivated to continue the great work that the late Mr Griffiths started, live his vision, and uphold and value the ideals of good journalism.
He hit the nail with these lines, “Our charter is to strive for accuracy and balance with the intention to do justice to every story we print and picture we use. We are not anti-government and we are not pro-government.” He drew the biggest cheer when he said:,
“Sleep assured we are firmly committed to helping our country move forward. Today, we give you a newspaper that is fair, just, balanced and honest. Today, we give you a newspaper that holds true to ideals of journalism.”
That moment at GPH will arguably go down into history books, as I can proudly boast that my wife Madhu Lingam and I were part of the 150th birthday celebration.
Known to be the guru of media ideals and impartial reporting, the legacy and proud history of The Fiji Times continues to reach out to thousands locally and over- seas.
The Fiji Times disseminates information to masses and values journalism and what it stands for. It disseminates information that has authority, is credible, and will help readers make well informed decisions in their lives daily.
The journey to strive credibility, fairness and neutrality has not been an easy one, and there have been obstacles along the way, but I am proud that our number one newspaper has survived the challenges and despite the adversities, The Fiji Times stood up to these challenges. A good reader looks for fair reporting whether its news related to sports, religion, economics, personal opinions or politics and I am glad that this is what The Fiji Times strives for.
The Fiji Times continues to be the voice of the voiceless. Having started as a letters to the editor contributor, I’m glad that my articles (on sports and social issues) have featured in the newspaper that holds a special place in my heart.
I salute The Fiji Times for braving 152 years to have serviced my motherland. I can never in my wildest of dreams imagine a Fiji without The Fiji Times, and I’m confident the journey will continue despite the testing times.
Thank you so much The Fiji Times for being a special part of Fiji’s history!
By RAJNESH LINGAM is a a regular contirbitor to The Fiji Times. The views expressed are the author’s and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.
