Creating a safe space for women in media across the Pacific is one of the focus of the 2024 7th PINA Media Summit in Niue.
PINA manager and Editor Makereta Komai said the discussions to include the agenda of challenges faced by women in media began at the 6th PINA Summit in Honiara in 2022.
“PINA through the discussions with some of our women across the Pacific elevated the issues of women in media to a regional agenda,” said Ms Komai.
“Previously it was not a big issue.
“Our media organisations did not really consider WIM as an issue that warranted an agenda for Pacific media.
“We started that conversation in Honiara and Rosi Doviverata, the acting CEO of the Fiji Sun and I had a discussion and thought maybe this is a time to get all of the women media workers across the Pacific to start a network for us to discuss our work in a safe space.
“Thus, the setting up of the Women in Media in Fiji and that has attracted attention from at least the three big Melanesian countries in PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.”
The WIM Fiji co-founder said the organisation has allowed female journalists in Fiji to talk freely about their challenges.
“From our experiences in Fiji that safe space has allowed us to talk freely about the issues that we face with work and how we can as a group of women have a stronger voice to be able to our employers and tell them this is what we are facing.
“That is the reason we raised it again at the Media Summit in Niue because PINA feels that this is an issue that is very important to the region.”
WIM Fiji will be sharing their experiences at the Summit in Niue later this week.
