Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)

(PINA/IFEX) – Fiji’s biggest daily newspaper, “The Fiji Times”, again faces the threat of action against it by the House of Representatives privileges committee, according to local news media reports. The opposition Fiji Labour Party wants an editorial comment, published by “The Fiji Times” on 1 December 1998, referred to the privileges committee. Labour Party […]

(PINA/IFEX) – “Sex On the Beach”, a song by the Dutch-American group T-Spoon, has come under fire after being played on a Fiji Islands radio station. Religious and community leaders quoted in the 7 January 1999 (local date) “Fiji’s Daily Post” newspaper condemned its lyrics as socially, culturally and religiously offensive. The Ministry of Information […]

(PINA/IFEX) – The Fiji Islands public is being invited to make submissions on a new Official Information Act. It will replace the Official Secrets Act inherited from the British colonial administration which governed before independence in 1970. Submissions close with the secretary-general to parliament on 31 January 1999. At a Fiji Media Council meeting on […]

(PINA/IFEX) – Australian Sean Dorney’s outstanding reporting of Papua New Guinea over many years has been recognised by PINA. Dorney, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s longtime Papua New Guinea correspondent, was named 1998 PINA Pacific Freedom of Information Award winner during this year’s PINA convention, held in Papeete, French Polynesia. **Updates IFEX alerts of 13 February […]

(PINA/IFEX) – Savea Sano Malifa will give the UNESCO keynote address on 14 December 1998 during Pacific Media Freedom Day at the 1998 PINA convention. Malifa, the award-winning publisher of the “Samoa Observer”, will fly from Europe to address the PINA convention, which is being held in Papeete, French Polynesia. **Updates IFEX alerts of 28 […]

(PINA/IFEX) – The company operating the national television service in the Fiji Islands is trying to get a ban on its paid political advertising lifted, media reports announced on 17 November 1998. The company, Fiji Television Limited, is seeking the Fiji Islands government’s approval to allow political parties to advertise during the campaign before general […]

(PINA/IFEX) – Concern is growing in the Fiji Islands news media over a decision by the Chief Magistrate to allow a closed court hearing reportedly because the person charged is a “well known” public figure. On 6 November 1998 (local date), details emerged of a case in which the Fiji Labour Party’s administrative officer, Rajendra […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 October 1998, Savea Sano Malifa, editor-publisher of the “Samoa Observer”, was named the 1998 winner of the Commonwealth’s most prestigious press freedom honour, the Astor Award. The announcement was made during the Astor Award dinner at the Commonwealth Press Union’s biennial conference, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. **Updates IFEX alerts […]