The president of the Pacific
Islands News Association (PINA) says journalists need
greater protection when reporting on organised crime
networks.
Speaking at a panel discussion on organized
crime in Savusavu, Kalafi Moala said journalists
investigating drug trafficking face increasing threats to
their personal safety.
Moala, who is also RNZ Pacific
correspondent in Tonga, recalled an
incident involving a journalist from Tongas Kele’a
newspaper who reported on Tongan gangs.
A gang
member went to the newspaper’s office the following day and
threatened the journalist.
Moala pointed out that in
Tonga alone, organized crime has become more
sophisticated.
He said as crime grows, continued
reporting and scrutiny are needed, but journalists must be
protected from threats and violence while doing their
job.
Pacific media professionals from across the
region are in Fiji for this year’s PINA Media Summit. The
summit, which officially begins on Wednesday, will shine a
spotlight on issues facing many Pacific newsroom across the
region.
Moala told RNZ Pacific he hoped the summit
will address some of the fundamental issues facing
journalism in the region.
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“In terms of storytelling,
in terms of engagement with government and other powers, how
do we do research to be able to do stories? How do we
fact-check our stories?
“Those are fundamental things
that I think it needs to be brought back and re-emphasized
in our training. And the reason for that is there are a lot
of young people that are coming in.”
More than 200
people are taking part in the PINA summit. Moala said this
is its biggest gathering yet.
He told RNZ Pacific that
PINA still needs to exist.
“It is an association where
it allows us to be able to stand together on the key
principles of our profession, of our faith. It is always
better to stand together than to stand alone.”
Women
in media
A Fijian media leader says Pacific women in
media continue to face challenges in the industry, including
accessing information from government agencies.
Rosi
Doviverata from the Women in Media Fiji organisation said
delays in responses can hold up reporting on issues
affecting communities.
She told Pacific Waves
reporters can sometimes wait two or three months for
answers.
“That can be really frustrating, and we have
people in the community asking why have not you reported
this, and that is mainly because we are waiting on
ministries to respond to those issues.”
Speaking prior
to the launch of the PINA media summit in Savusavu,
Doviverata said support from colleagues and editors can help
Pacific female reporters advance in their
careers.
“For us in Fiji, we have seen we are where we
are because of that male allyship,” she said.
“We are
active, we are engaging with different organisations,
because of that
support.”
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