MY fellow Fijians I bring to you warm greetings for a happy, prosperous, and a very hope-filled New Year, 2026.
As we look back on the year and prepare for a fresh start, one thought stands out: ‘Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn’ — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
These words lay a fitting platform for 2026 — a year that calls us to renew our spirit, sharpen our focus, and embrace new beginnings.
The start of a new year always inspires us to reflect on our achievements, our challenges, and our aspirations. It motivates us to reach for bigger dreams for ourselves, our families, and our beloved nation.
The key to making 2026 our best year yet is to enter it with purpose, clarity, and the right mindset.
We can look back at the years gone by and recognise that many moments tested our resilience. Yet, despite life’s challenges, The Fiji Times team has remained committed to delivering timely, accurate, and impactful news to our readers.
Our commitment to journalistic integrity continues to define us and reinforces our role as a trusted source of information for the Fijian community.
On September 4, 2025 we celebrated The Fiji Times 156th Anniversary remembering the day George Littleton Griffiths founded the newspaper in Levuka in1869. The Fiji Times records of history are critical and reflective publications that have allowed Fijians to be informed for 156 years.
The slogan YOUR VOICE since 1869 is a daily reminder for all of us about the place The Fiji Times has in our lives, and the development of our nation going back since September 4, 1869 and driving a message of hope for the future.
The year 2025 also marked a significant milestone for media freedom and resilience in Fiji. The return of the Fiji Awards for Media Excellence (FAME) held on December 6, 2025 after a 17-year hiatus was widely recognised as a sign of renewed confidence, pride, and professionalism in our media landscape.
We are proud that The Fiji Times dominated the 2025 FAME Awards, earning top honours across print and digital journalism:
The Fiji Times managing editor – digital, Anish Chand, was named both Journalist of the Year and Print Journalist of the Year.
Anish Chand also won the Scoop of the Year for a major interview (Lens@177 interview with a senior official) a story which sparked national debate, underscoring the newspaper’s impact on public discourse.
John Kamea (The Sunday Times, under The Fiji Times) won Best News Article – Print Feature for powerful storytelling rooted in rural Fiji.
Samantha Rina won All Media – Best Coverage of a Major News Event or Issue for a 20-page feature on a complex health issue (Lupus), showing the newspaper’s commitment to in-depth reporting on social issues.
The Fiji Times’ digital team also won Most Innovative Digital Team — highlighting its adaptation and growth in digital journalism
The stellar performance of The Fiji Times at FAME 2025 confirms the newspaper is not only surviving, but thriving in the evolving media landscape of Fiji, especially with growing digital impact and continues to reinforce journalistic values: truth-seeking, accountability, deep reporting, and media integrity in Fiji.
As we step into the new year, let us carry forward the spirit of resilience, freedom, and unity that these milestones represent.
The Fiji Times strive to be the voice of the people and hold truth to power. These awards are a reflection of who we are and what we stand for.
Having said this once again, as a media company, in 2026, The Fiji Times renews its commitment to place value on good journalism. And The Fiji Times understands its responsibility to support it in good times and bad, so that it can stay that way. We value the role of media, and we embrace its significance in our history.
The Fiji Times as a news organisation, have watched our nation develop over more than a century.
Let us take positive views, give our best, be agents for change, work smarter and place trust in God that 2026 will be about good vibes, bigger goals, more happiness, less pain, stronger relationships and being more focused than ever.
May this New Year be filled with renewed hope, prosperity, and continued strides toward a brighter and more inclusive future for Fiji. Thank you for being an integral part of The Fiji Times family.
I, together with my fellow directors, general manager, editor, management team and The Fiji Times staff thank all our readers, advertisers, customers, business partners and friends for all your support in 2025, and we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, safe and rewarding 2026.
Happy New Year to all and God Bless Fiji.
Vinaka vakalevu, and Happy New Year!
