Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)

In a historic vote, the Parliament of Fiji repealed the controversial Media Industry Development Authority Act, which has been used to restrict the work of journalists since 2010.

The Pacific Islands News Association said that the new government of Fiji has pledged to restore media freedom as part of its affirmative action during its first 100 days in office.

The Pacific Islands News Association wrote a letter urging Cook Islands authorities not to ban journalist Rashneel Kumar from covering the parliament after his report on travel perks was criticized by Members of Parliament. UPDATE: The decision on the ban will be announced next week.

The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) endorses the Outcome Statement of the inaugural Melanesia Media Freedom Forum that convened at the Griffith University in Brisbane this week.

The reported unprovoked assault on journalist Dorothy Mark, who received facial injuries, should be condemned in the strongest terms and those responsible be arrested and charged, said PINA President Kora Nou. Mr Nou is equally concerned with the online abuse targeted at Samoan journalist Ms Lani Wendt Young.

Threats, verbal abuse, and arrest of media workers in the Pacific are on the rise.

Journalist Zeenat Shahzadi was recently recovered from a kidnapping. Rather than releasing her to her family, the Pakistani government is arbitrarily holding her in custody.

34 NGOs call on the government of Ghana to ensure its citizens’ right to access to information.