Fiji, a country shaped by political turmoil, social challenges, and cultural shifts, has long relied on radio as an indispensable medium to keep people informed.
While The Fiji Times, the nation’s oldest newspaper, has been the voice of the people for over 150 years, the advent of radio in the early 20th century revolutionised information dissemination.
Radio’s transformative potential was first demonstrated globally in 1893 by Guglielmo Marconi, and it quickly became a vital source of news and entertainment worldwide.
In Fiji, this transformation accelerated with the establishment of Communications Fiji Ltd (CFL) in 1985 by William Parkinson.
As the first private company to introduce independent, 24/7 broadcasting, CFL offered an alternative to the government-controlled Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), reshaping the country’s media landscape. From its early days to the present, CFL has remained at the forefront of broadcast journalism in Fiji.
Approaching its 40th anniversary in 2025, CFL continues to reflect on its legacy and resilience in navigating some of the most turbulent periods in the nation’s history.
CFL’s news director for over 27 years Vijay Narayan, has been instrumental in steering the company through these challenges while witnessing the evolution of Fiji’s media industry firsthand.
Overcoming challenges and the pursuit of independence
In a recent panel discussion titled “Sustaining traditional practices in a modern world,” Narayan shared insights into the significant challenges that CFL has faced throughout its history.
One of the major hurdles, he said, was the lack of fair competition in the media industry when CFL was first established.
At the time, the government-owned FBC dominated the broadcast landscape, with the advantage of receiving large financial backing from the state.
In comparison, CFL had to operate without such resources, often fighting an uphill battle to maintain its independence and serve as a counterbalance to government-controlled media.
“Every day we start off, the race was not fair,” Narayan said.
“If it’s a hundred-metre race for the young people, our opposition is already at the 90-meter mark.
“They get multi-million-dollar funding, but we did not lose hope. We’ve got to make sure that we continue to push, stay true to our profession, and what keeps us going is the passion and empathy.”
Despite these obstacles, Narayan said CFL’s commitment to providing independent news and fostering a culture of free speech remained steadfast.
He reflected on the period of censorship in 2009, when Fiji’s media landscape became more restrictive.
“Hardly anyone spoke up. It was only the media.”
However, he believes that this period highlighted the vital role of media in defending democracy and the rights of the people.
The role of media in shaping public dialogue
As media has evolved, so too have the issues it covers.
Narayan, who hosts the show “Straight Talk,” pointed out that while lifestyle topics and entertainment are important, Fiji faces pressing issues that demand attention.
“If I’ll be talking about a lifestyle issue and people don’t have water in their taps, they wouldn’t be here.
“Tolerance level has gone up for those kinds of things.”
Narayan also spoke about the blurred lines between traditional media and digital platforms, expressing concern over the rise of social media and the impact it has on public understanding of news.
“We see, if we had to learn from what is happening overseas, people are not news literate,” he said, pointing to the trend where people only skim headlines and don’t engage deeply with news stories. There’s no in-depth reading, and the trend is, give me information in small packages.”
This shift, he warned, poses a challenge for independent media outlets like CFL, which must work harder to ensure the public is informed and capable of critically evaluating the news they consume.
Preserving cultural heritage in a modern world
As a broadcaster serving a diverse population, Narayan said it was important to preserve Fiji’s rich cultural and linguistic heritage.
He noted that in recent history, certain languages, such as Hindustani, have been stigmatised, with some people regarding the use of such languages as “racist”.
Narayan, however, believes that preserving these languages is crucial to maintaining the country’s identity.
“We have a challenge. Do we want to stay that way?
“But at the same time, we should respect other cultures and traditions. That’s where tolerance comes in.”
Through CFL’s programing, Narayan has made a personal commitment to bridging cultural gaps.
He speaks fluently in English, Hindustani, and Fijian, using his multilingual skills to better serve the diverse Fijian population.
“I have total respect for my ancestors who came in.
“It’s important that we value our different cultures and traditions and ensure they are reflected in our media.”
Navigating Fiji’s political and social landscape
Throughout Fiji’s history, the media has often found itself caught in the crossfire of political unrest, The Fiji Times especially.
Narayan recalled the impact of the 1987, 2000, and 2006 coups, each of which fuelled racial and religious tensions and posed significant challenges for journalists.
“When people get older, they forget sometimes how they were when they were young.
“They loved the fun. They loved the chit-chat in their own lingo but as they grow older, they turn around and say, ‘What you’re doing is wrong’.”
In the face of these challenges, Narayan has remained focused on the resilience required to navigate such turbulent times.
“The most important thing for us as a nation and as people of the Pacific is resilience and perseverance. Let’s not just look at the Western world and adopt what they are doing. We have to look at our culture. We have to preserve it.”
The need for media literacy and education reform
Looking to the future, Narayan emphasised the need for greater media literacy and an overhaul of the education system to address the social challenges facing Fiji.
“We have a lot of social challenges. We know we have issues with drugs, issues with indiscipline, issues with people not showing any respect at all to their own families. Our education system needs to be overhauled because all our values, all our virtues are being lost.”
Narayan called for greater respect for the diversity of Fiji’s people and a commitment to fostering dialogue that transcends religious and cultural boundaries.
“We need to work a lot on media literacy. To ensure that we capture our true history and make sure everyone’s voices are heard.”
