Now that is more like it! Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica made a strong statement at the 8th PINA Media Summit in Savusavu, speaking about the information gap between Government and the media, and suggesting it could distort the narrative.
It makes sense. And about time too that this line of thought is pushed through to the masses. It has to be part of the national conversation.
If there is a gap, then it must be closed.
He said Government had a responsibility to ensure journalists were fully informed, stressing that accurate information was not one-way.
Consider this a thought-provoking line. We also have to consider whether people will all trust the information being disseminated by Government. The voting block will not all support those who make up our government, so questions will be raised. Who believes what? Connect that with the notion of propaganda, misinformation and disinformation and we have quite a situation if there is a gap.
Mr Kamikamica said the media had a responsibility to report accurately, but Government was also a stakeholder in information.
We reflect on 16 years of suppression under the previous government, when sections of the media were forced to refer to the government social media portal for some press releases and information.
One thing that shift drove was the narrative the government wanted to put out. Who dictated the narrative then? Understandably, there are dangers, especially when questions cannot be asked.
So, we are left with challenges later, like those we are now facing, from the state of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital to education and hard drugs.
Mr Kamikamica said Government, as a stakeholder in information, must ensure the media was fully informed.
He said this was important amid concerns over misinformation and disinformation, with technology creating challenges.
Fiji, he said, had begun addressing the issue through its SAUTU framework, while Government was developing a digital strategy.
However, he stressed Government did not want to over-regulate the media and believed the industry should manage its affairs. A healthy relationship between Government and the media required trust and engagement. The media’s role in holding those in power to account remained important, while Government had to ensure journalists had information.
We say, this is the way to go. No more should people be held to ransom in the pursuit of information.
The Fijian Media Association has since moved to connect questions from the masses to the powers that be in a unique platform. The town hall forum initiative gives people a base to voice their opinions and ask questions they feel strongly about. The forum in Levuka, earlier this year, reached around 250,000 viewers.
They listened to questions and answers from our leaders and Government cannot get away from that. Hundreds of thousands of people are listening and waiting. This is why that gap must be bridged.
Government must communicate, the media must question, and the public must judge. Trust must be earned. Closing the gap matters!
