The Deputy secretary for Information, Maj. Neumi Leweni, said the Department of Information and the Attorney General’s Office have been working closely together since July when the cabinet decided to amalgamate all existing laws pertaining to the media under one promulgation.
“Currently, the existing laws pertaining to the media are located under different Acts. Bringing them together under one promulgation will help the media industry to better understand the parameters or boundaries they should work within,” he said.
“It is just like any other professional industry where one should be fully aware of the scope and guidelines he or she has to operate under,” Leweni said.
He said the media promulgation will encourage media freedom and freedom of expression — and a greater degree of responsibility.
According to Leweni, the exercise is already revealing some interesting facts.
“Some laws, like the Broadcasting Commission Act of 1985 needs to be expanded to include all radio stations. Also, the emergence of online media like the Internet needs to be addressed in a way that will allow for freedom of expression with responsibility,” he said.
The promulgation will include the establishment of a media appeals tribunal.
“The media appeals tribunal will provide an additional and welcome avenue of recourse for the public because they will be able to raise their concerns if they believe that the Fiji Media Council has not dealt with their media complaints adequately and satisfactorily,” he said. “The media appeals tribunal will serve to strengthen the role and functions of the Fiji Media Council.”
Leweni said ultimately, the media promulgation and appeals tribunal will help ensure greater media responsibility and a commitment to accurate, fair and objective reporting, as well as the upholding of the integrity of the media industry as partners in national development.
