MEDIA representatives in the West gathered at the South Seas Club in Lautoka over the weekend to celebrate their contribution and work achieved this year.
Fiji Media Association general secretary Stanley Simpson addressed the group, acknowledging the unique challenges of covering an area that serves as a major economic hub.
“I know we think it’s a small number, but I find that it’s very important that the media, together with the opportunity arises, because of the range of, the extent and the breadth of the roles that we play and the work that we do throughout the year,” he said.
Simpson said that while West-based journalists may sometimes feel alone and forgotten, their work was essential to providing a truly national story of what is happening in Fiji today.
The gathering served as a rare moment of respite for the industry.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity, at this time of the season, that we get together to put our hair down, share a few moments, share a few laughs, because the work can be stressful.”
Simpson encouraged the journalists to maintain a balance of co-operation and professional rivalry.
“I think I know that you’re a close-knit unit here in the West, we work together. I think it’s also important that you compete strongly with each other, so that we can keep getting the best stories out of each other.”
