Launching the Media and Development book at the University of the South Pacific, Tarte said one of the contributors to the book, Ron Duncan, stressed it was better that the media regulate itself through the media council and its codes of conduct.
He said statutory regulation is not the way but this challenge must be addressed by journalists. Tarte said the collection of perspectives about the media should be compulsory reading for anyone who professed to be a Pacific islands journalist.
He commended the editors, university academics Biman Prasad and Shalendra Singh, saying they set the tone with the comment in their introduction that “journalism is a noble calling — journalists have a critical development role to play in the region.”
One of the contributors, Paresh Narayan, said: “Coverage is weak and partial and journalists should provide relevant information to the public, the bulk of which rely exclusively on the media for understanding.”
On freedom of information, Charmain Rodrigues said “access to information legislation had yet to be enacted in any Pacific island country.”
Nicole Gooch and Lisa Williams-Lahari said, “health journalism is less about pills and press releases and more about people and priorities, lifestyles and healthy communities.”
Ron Duncan: “There have been many attempts by governments in the Pacific to exert control over the media in the name of good governance, it is preferable that the media perform this function itself through media councils and codes of conduct.”
But according to Fiji Institute of Technology Director Ganesh Chand, the media needs to be regulated if it continues to be irresponsible in its role of reporting important issues in the nation.
“If you compare other international media like the British Broadcasting Commission and CNN in the United States with Fiji’s media, a lot is left to be desired,” he said.
When there are mistakes in articles and the facts are incorrect, “recourse for victims of these stories is almost non-existent,” he said.
He urged journalists to keep their personal views out of important development issues they cover.
Chand asked the media to cover more development issues and the many untold success stories.
He believes there is a need for regulation being more responsible could avoid this.
USP Vice Chancellor Eci Nabalarua said the type of questioning, self-examination, critical analysis and investigative reporting by the media is not only essential, but should be constant and consistent if journalists are to remain in touch with the people.
“In my view, the bigger challenge that the media faces amid inherent tensions and conflict of interests in the Pacific today, is its management of the truth in a balanced, responsible and professional manner,” she said.
