Fiji has been ranked 52 out of 179 countries on a freedom of the press index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The 2020 World Press Freedom index stated media in Fiji remained “victims of government intimidation”.
RSF report stated that media in Fiji operated under the 2010 Media Industry Development Decree, which was turned into a law in 2018.
“The sedition laws, with penalties of up to seven years in prison, are also used to foster a climate of fear and self-censorship,” the report stated.
“Sedition charges put the lives of three journalists with The Fiji Times, the leading daily, on hold until they were finally acquitted in 2018.
“Many observers believed it was the price the newspaper paid for its independence,” the report stated.
Fiji was ranked 52 last year and in the region, Tonga (50), Papua New Guinea (46) and Samoa (21) rank better than Fiji.
Questions electronically mailed to the chairman of Fiji’s Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA), Ashwin Raj last week remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
