Thanks to funding support from the ABC administered Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), the Secretariat was able to convene a meeting of the PINA Executive Board in Suva from 26-27 January 2023. All Board members were present at the meeting in Suva, held at the Suva Business Centre.
Present: Mr Kora Nou (President), Mr Robert Iroga (Vice President), Ms Georgina Kekea (NMA Rep), Ms Katalina Tohi (Radio Rep), Mr Dominic Appi (TV Rep), Mr Fred Wesley (Print Rep), Mr Iliesa Tora (New Media Rep) and Ms Makereta Komai (PINA Manager).
While in Suva, the Board members paid courtesy visit to the Office of the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and were briefed on the role of the media in the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy.
The second, was a courtesy call on the Coalition Government’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, the Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. Discussion centre around the promise by the Coalition Government to review the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) Act 2010. The PINA President welcomed the commitment of the Fijian Government – and conveyed PINA’s support for the call to repeal the MIDA Act from the Fijian Media Association (FMA).
There were presentations from partners and potential donors;
1) Dr Shailendra Singh, Co-ordinator of the USP Journalism Programme
2) Ms Amelia Makutu, Asia Foundation
3) Ms Samantha Mattila, Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA
4) Mr Stanley Simpson, Fijian Media Association
5) Ms Rosi Doviverata, Women in Media Fiji
6) Ms Georgina Kekea, Media Association of Solomon Islands
7) Mr Robert Iroga, Pacific Freedom Forum
Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Secretariat 105 Amy Street, Toorak
Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands
Phone: + (679) 3315732 Email: pacnews1@pina.com.fj Web: www.pina.com.fj
Here are some of the major decisions taken by the PINA Executive Board;
- The current PINA Strategic Plan of 2017 -2021 has now expired. The Board has agreed to engage a consultant, to review and update our Strategic Plan – especially the Implementation Plan. The Board has agreed to reach out to former President who developed our current plan, Joseph Ealedona of PNG to review and update our Plan. It will be review to also incorporate some of the priorities that we will be working closely with PACMAS – the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS). The strategic Plan, which is likely to be two years – will provide guidance on the work the current Board wants to complete during their term in office.
- PINA Audit report for 2019 was endorsed by the Board. It’s the first time that PINA has had an ‘unqualified’ audit – which means that the auditors did not find any major issues with the PINA accounts. However, PINA recorded a loss of FJD$403 in 2019 – from a profit of close to over $10,000 in 2019. Revenue from subscription and membership have dropped significantly. PINA needs to bring in more subscription and push for timely payment of annual membership fees from members. There is a need to consider other alternative revenue sources from website advertising, media monitoring to supplement PINA’s dwindling revenue.
- Nadi-based international audit company, HLB Mann Judd that conducted the 2019 audit has been endorsed as PINA’s new auditor – replacing EY (Ernst & Young). The Secretariat will begin the 2020 audit before the second quarter of the year.
- There was some discussion around hosting of the 7th Pacific Media Summit in 2024 by Niue.
The Secretariat has been tasked to request an update from Michael Jackson, the Publisher of Niue Star to see if they are still keen to host. If not, the Fijian Media Association has put its hand up to host. Papua New Guinea has also expressed interest to host in the event that Fiji is also unable to do so. PINA Board Member from Nauru, Dominic Appi informed the meeting that Nauru is ready to host the 2026 Pacific Media Summit. - The Board has agreed to open up Associate Membership to individual and media organisations in Australia and New Zealand that create and publish Pacific content and are actively supporting media development in the Pacific. The first member now is Pasifika TV and Radio in Brisbane Australia and paid its 2023 membership fee in February, the first PINA member to pay up this year. Associate members can attend as observers but not allowed to vote at the General conference.
- There was discussion on including the Sports Journalists Association representative on the PINA Board – an outcome from the Media Summit pre-summit workshop in Honiara. The Board has agreed that they can become an affiliated body within PINA like the existing Pacific Environment Journalists Association (PEJN) and the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN). The PINA Board feels that its best to keep the Board membership to generally mainstream media industry groups at this time – otherwise the Board membership will become too large.
- The PINA Board has endorsed the revival of the PINA Regional Media Awards – to be announced at the next Pacific Media Summit in 2024.
- Both Niue and Nauru are looking at setting up their national media associations. PINA and National Media Associations like FMA and MASI will assist them to develop their draft constitution and code of ethics.
- The PINA Executive Board considered the presentations from all the partners listed above and agreed to consider them in line with PINA’s work plan and priorities.
•Board members met with the PACMAS phase 4 design team – to discuss how PINA can partner with them in delivering activities for media development in the region.
Strengthening National Media Associations – administrative and funding support to NMAs to drive media training, collaborate with donors, defend and promote media freedom and advocate for inclusion and change in media and related laws. NMAs need resourcing support.
Content generation and content sharing – build capacity of journalists, content creators &
technical skills to create in-depth and compelling content that can be shared with members regionally and globally. There is a need for a platform, possibly managed by PINA where members can access audio/video content produced by Pacific journalists and share amongst themselves and outside the region. The content platform can be used by international media to access Pacific stories and content and share their relevant content with the Pacific media.
Strengthen and support PINA CEO’s Summit as a platform to bring together media leaders in Australia and the Pacific to address industry challenges and lead on strategies for partnership and collaboration in support of media business development. PINA has convened two CEO’s conference (in Auckland (2019) and Honiara (2020 via zoom).
Set up an exchange programme of media visits to learn from each other – and from our metropolitan countries Australia and NZ, similar to the visit by Fiji Media Editors to Australia. PACMAS Phase 4 is proposing two-way exchange between Australia and the Pacific, and capacity development (on-the-job learning, mentoring, residencies, and exchange).
A cadet programme for new entrants into the industry – may be work through established journalism schools in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands etc.
Support Journalism schools across the Pacific – with relevant curriculum, research work etc.