The International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) welcomes the strong support for press freedom recently expressed at Pacific Media Rising: Shaping New Futures
for Media, Voice and Accountability, a regional media roundtable meeting held
in Honiara, Solomon Islands from October 19 to 21.
The roundtable meeting is the second to be held by the IFJ in the
region, following a meeting of journalists and press freedom activists in Apia,
Samoa last year.
This year’s roundtable, attended by regional journalists,
civil society representatives and donors, had the dual objectives of
strengthening monitoring of media freedoms in the Pacific, and strengthening
the role of media as partners essential to accountable, transparent governance and
sustainable development in Pacific nations.
The event incorporated a training workshop on journalism
in the public interest for Pacific journalists and a parallel media partners’
forum for development and civil society organisations, and community media
networks. The roundtable culminated in a joint plenary of both groups on the
final day, aimed at discussing strategies for progressing press freedom in the
Pacific.
The roundtable discussions saw widespread
support for continued efforts to protect and promote press freedom in the
region. Codes of ethics, freedom of information laws, the growth of citizen
journalism and the current situation for journalists in
Fiji were all identified as areas of interest.
In his opening address to the roundtable,
Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga said: “Any violation on
media freedom and freedom of expression by governments, businesses and
individuals is undemocratic and that kind of attitude should be discouraged.
“Any actions and decisions that infringe
these fundamental democratic principles is a violation of human rights.”
The IFJ welcomes Maelanga’s comments and
commends the Solomon Islands Government for its statement of support for press
freedom, and encourages other governments in the Pacific to similarly affirm
their commitment to these principles.
“The IFJ is committed to working with media
and other stakeholders in the region as they engage with new political
challenges and emerging technologies in pursuit of quality independent,
journalism,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
For further information contact IFJ
Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents more than 600,000
journalists in 131 countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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