Governments must appreciate and place value on democracy and free opinion which are vital in ensuring media freedom.
This was highlighted by The Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley while speaking during a panel discussion at the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in Suva yesterday.
Wesley reflected on the impact of being subjected to the now-repealed Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) 2010 for the past 13 years.
He highlighted the laws and suppressive measures hindering the industry’s growth, questioning the need for such laws.
He spoke on media suppression and censorship in Fiji, personal experiences with fines and sedition charges, all while working under the MIDA Act.
“There’s no amount of flowery words about what’s needed and what should be done, that will take away the fact that we need governments in the Pacific to be engaged.
“We need governments to understand and place value on democracy and the value of free opinion.
“And there has to be freedom of the press – no suppressions and no stress.”
Wesley emphasised the challenges faced by journalists in the Pacific region, including government interference and limited resources in many newsrooms.
