A powerful anti-corruption journalism initiative has been locked in following a landmark partnership agreement signed between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Pacific Islands News Association.
The regional initiative, first launched in 2022, is designed to strengthen anti-corruption journalism across Pacific Island nations.
Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) board member and The Fiji Times Editor-in-chief Fred Wesley said the project would provide critical support to Pacific journalists through specialised training and participation in high-stakes forums.
Wesley highlighted that the agreement would enable journalists to pursue a wider spectrum of issues.
“It also supports journalists to pursue in-depth stories on issues such as public accountability, governance, political financing, climate finance and corruption that directly affect Pacific communities,” he said.
The collaboration would also focus heavily on inclusion by promoting the participation of women and youth journalists.
Wesley noted this would strengthen cooperation among media professionals across the diverse Pacific region.
He highlighted the vital role of journalism in enhancing community voices to build public trust.
“Strong journalism helps inform citizens, it amplifies community voices and contributes to building public trust in institutions,” Wesley said.
He expressed that journalism was not merely hearsay reporting, but rather interpreting complex decisions so common citizens could fully understand them.
“Our role is to help citizens understand how decisions are made, how public resources are used and why accountability matters.”
