Bula
The fact that thousands of young people have converged on the Capital City for the annual Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Finals at the National Stadium is inching out high security measures.
In the face of that, we learn that young students remain extremely vulnerable to the physical, social and economic impacts caused by narcotics – especially drugs and kava.
Fiji National University (FNU) academic director Matereti Sukanaivalu told a panel discussion on higher education, organised by Dialogue Fiji in Suva this week that narcotics-related problems were on the rise in Fiji, and there was a need for more awareness.
That’s the big one on the front page of The Fiji Times for Friday, May 3.
In the second story, Westpac Fiji has confirmed the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s worst fears – that this year, our economy will not grow as strongly as it had officially projected.
The red bank is projecting growth this year to fall “below the historical trend of 2.5 per cent”, as “factors such as increased inflation, high outward migration and subdued growth in trading partner economies” converge to stifle domestic demand.
Fiji Finals
Follow us for top coverage of the Fiji Finals in Suva.
Keep a tab on what’s happening by the minute on our online platforms, on www.fijitimes.com, on the Fiji Times Facebook page, and on our Instagram and X handles.
Get a copy of the newspaper for an indepth look at the happenings on the track and field, and for those colourful pictures
Find out who is in the newspaper! Read their stories and much more!
International
Action on the Gaza front is attracting attention in many parts of the world.
Protests fuelled by emotions on over-drive have engulfed campuses in the US.
Follow us for indepth coverage of the turn of events.
There’s also great interest in a picture Indian PM Narendra Modi took with a politician who has been connected to 300 explicit videos.
And that too in the middle of an election!
Synopsis
May 3 is a special day for journalists around the world.
We say that every year, and we mean it! It’s World Press Freedom Day.
This year, the special day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environment crisis.
UNESCO suggests all stories deserve to be told.
But this one may be particularly decisive.
It says the climate and biodiversity crisis are not only affecting the environment and ecosystems but also the lives of billions of people around the world.
Their stories of upheaval and loss, it points out, deserve to be known and shared.
“They are not always pretty to watch. They can even be disturbing. But it’s only by knowing that action is possible. “Exposing the crisis is the first step to solving it.
“That’s why the role of journalists is crucial. It is through their work, their courage and their perseverance that we can know what is happening across the planet.
“They work on the frontlines of our collective fight for the health of our planet and our struggle for livable lives.”
As a nation, we aren’t far-removed from the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Our struggles against rising sea levels, shifting weather patterns, and flooding for instance are documented.
It does not help that we live in a country that has an annual cyclone season.
While our challenges are many, as UNESCO outlines, there is a role for the media, for journalists, to be disseminating information that keeps a tab on them and creates a level of awareness that will work on finding ways to effectively deal with them.
That means talking to those impacted. It means writing stories that delve deeper into their challenges, and their hopes and aspirations. It means discussing solutions, and finding ways to raise awareness, whilst encouraging support.
It means focusing attention on issues of interest and pricking the minds of those who can call the shots when it comes to assistance.
It means empowering people and motivating them to stand up and take charge of their destiny.
Now, more than ever, the day is significant, now that we have the draconian piece of legislation, the MIDA Act repealed.
We have always said that the day offers us an opportunity, for what it’s worth, to appreciate the work of journalists and to acknowledge people in the news and those who read, listen to, view, and surf the internet in search of information.
Journalists are sometimes mis-understood in Fiji.
They also have families.
They have feelings, bias, aspirations, and they appreciate many things just like everyone else.
Many of them have families of their own. Many have children to support.
Faced with many obstacles, passion for the job keeps many in this career.
Journalists have also been acknowledged and appreciated.
For every journalist on the frontline, there are just as many in the background, from the editors of various departments, sub-editors in a newspaper, to people behind the scenes, working to get a radio or television program or web update ready for the masses.
There are the people in administration, finance, transport, advertising and marketing, and newspaper sellers, who all play an important role in the process of disseminating information to the masses.
On this special day, we also challenge those in positions of authority to place value on freedom of expression, and the right to information.
We challenge men and women who are tasked to uphold the laws of our country, to do that with integrity and dedication.
We appreciate that there is great power in information.
We are reminded that there must also be a great sense of responsibility.
