21/07/2025
Fiji Media Unite for Historic Northern Townhall with Government and the Public
SUVA, FIJI – In an unprecedented display of media solidarity and collaboration, Fiji's major news organisations are uniting for the first time to co-host a historic Town Hall & Meet the Public and the Press forums featuring Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad in Labasa, and senior cabinet and government officials in Savusavu.
The Fiji Sun, The Fiji Times, Mai TV, Fiji Live, Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), and Fiji TV are collaborating under the Fiji Media Association umbrella to host forums in Savusavu on Wednesday, July 23 at 7pm at Hotel Grand Epic, and in Labasa on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 7pm at the Fiji Football Association Conference Room.
The events are supported by the United States Embassy in Fiji.
Stanley Simpson, FMA General Secretary and Mai TV News Director, described the collaboration as a watershed moment for Fiji's media landscape and democracy.
"The role of the media is more critical than ever in an age of fake news and misinformation and our goal with this initiative is to foster transparent
dialogue and democratic discussion, demonstrating our commitment to providing platforms for meaningful public discourse that highlights challenges and propose solutions," he said.
"Never before have our major news organisations set aside commercial competition to work together for the greater good of democratic dialogue and public engagement. This extraordinary technical collaboration
sees camera operators, sound engineers, graphic artists, video editors and production coordinators working as one unified crew across company lines, achieving production values and coverage depth for public good," Simpson added.
As the coalition government approaches its third year in office, both forums will focus on critical issues affecting the Northern division.
Prime Minister Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Prasad are expected to address economic development strategies, infrastructure improvements and regional connectivity, government services accessibility in rural areas, education and healthcare delivery, tourism development opportunities, and agricultural support programmes.
Members of the Savusavu and Labasa communities will have the opportunity to directly engage in an open question-and-answer session with government leaders, raising issues and challenges affecting their everyday life.
“For Ministers and Ministries that may not be able to be physically present the media will try to call them Live during the show to respond to pressing queries from the public or address through follow up stories,” Simpson said.
The events will be broadcast LIVE simultaneously across all participating media platforms, with coordinated digital platforms, social media channels, and broadcast schedules ensuring unprecedented reach and accessibility for Fijian audiences nationwide.
Simpson emphasised the importance of taking democratic discourse beyond Viti Levu and to areas that don’t get much opportunities to be directly seen or heard.
"For too long, meaningful political dialogue has been concentrated in Suva and urban centres. By bringing this forum to Savusavu and Labasa, we're
ensuring that voices from our outer islands and rural communities are heard at the highest levels of government. This represents inclusive democracy in action," he said.
The FMA General Secretary also highlighted how the changed media landscape has enabled this collaboration.
"Since the Media Industry Development Act's removal in 2023, we've seen a more open environment for media collaboration, allowing us to focus on our core responsibility of serving the public interest without unnecessary regulatory constraints,” Simpson explained.
The moderated sessions will feature senior editors and journalists from all participating organisations, ensuring professional, balanced coverage whilst allowing for open public participation.
The Fiji Media Association expects to host similar town halls in future across Fiji to strengthen public trust in both media and democratic institutions whilst setting a new standard for civic engagement in the Pacific region.
