I can’t remember when I first read The Fiji Times, it was maybe the day before long ago, but jokes aside I go way back.
The media plays an important role in society in that it brings us the news, sometimes when picking up the paper we raise our eyebrows and say, “Oh my goodness did that happen.”
Yes the reporters have their noses out for news, news that matters.
Things that affect us. And things that come to mind are politics and business. Even if you don’t like it, these things matter it makes our society run. While I despise politics, I have to be a part of it.
And in the past we would fight over the paper and the owner (the person who bought it) would make sure that he did the crossword first and then pass it on to be read and returned.
However, if by some chance he forgets to do it and someone else does it, he will demand that the person who did it had to buy a paper for him. Oh it was a sight to see him demanding for a new paper.
The paper brings us news and we are updated with what is going on. I have copies of The Fiji Times dating back to 1969 and I cherish them. There is also a topic in forms 5, 6 and 7 called varieties English, with letters to the editor and journalism or the language of newspaper reporting.
When travelling in the bus going to school and if someone was reading The Fiji Times, people would be seen reading over the owners shoulders.
It can be a nuisance because slow readers would ask for the page not to be turned so they could finish reading. It was a sight to see because the owner would fold the paper and tuck it under his arm.
I remember some years ago, mid-week a few days to payday, a coworker wrote a post dated cheque to buy one paper.
That is how precious it is to read the paper. The Fiji Times also is a good source of history. Having all my old papers, I saw my late dad’s photo, he was pictured in a 1966 edition.
He had returned from Australia as one of the first of two people who did underwater welding.
I scanned it and sent it to my family who were amazed and asked me where I got it from. They asked for the paper to be sent to them – my reply was, “No, you want to read it come home.”
Such is how much I value The Fiji Times I will never let my old copies out of my house. Later I started writing letters to the Editor and like they say, the rest is history.
I now subscribe to the electronic edition having being invited by The Fiji Times to be chief guest at its launch.
