Fiji Times urges government to drop Media Bill
Title -- 4071 FIJI: Fiji Times urges government to drop Media Bill
Date -- 1 June 2003
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Fiji Times, tyianni@fijitimes.com.fj 31 May 2003
Copyright -- FT
Status -- Unabridged
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FIJI TIMES URGES GOVERNMENT TO DROP MEDIA BILL
Full text of Fiji Times submission:
www.pmw.c2o.org/2003/fijitimesmediabillsub.pdf
Full text of Citizens' Constitutional Forum (CCF) oral submission :
www.pmw.c2o.org/2003/ccfmediasub.pdf
SUVA (Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji Times, the country's largest and most influential media organisation, has called on the government to withdraw its controversial draft media law, saying the proposal would all but deprive Fiji Islanders of their right to freedom of expression.
"If government is prepared to drop this draft entirely, it does not mean the media of Fiji is the only winner. Everyone wins," the newspaper's board of directors said in its submission.
"It would show clearly our constitution works for all. It would demonstrate a democratic approach can achieve great results for Fiji's citizens. It would be the media's honoured role to tell the world that Fiji's media is free!"
The Fiji Times said control and regulation were "inappropriate" for Fiji, adding that the newspaper was committed to improving training and journalism standards as a way forward.
Information Minister Simione Kaitani last month made public a proposed Media Council of Fiji Bill to replace an existing self-regulatory body with a statutory council with the power to impose fines.
He also called for public submissions on the draft law by the end of last month.
The Fiji Times said in its submission - signed by board chairman Ross McDonald, managing director Tony Yianni, and directors Mahendra Motibhai Patel and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi - that the draft law's proposal duplicated the existing Media Council (Fiji) Ltd.
It also said existing Fiji legislation already ensured the right of freedom of expression with responsibility - such as the Penal Code, Defamation Act, the Public Health Act, the Public Order Act, the Public Safety Act and the 1997 Constitution.
"The draft Media Bill duplicates the constitution of the Media Council (Fiji) Ltd almost entirely and the Media Council code of ethics and practice completely," the submission said.
"The council proposed by the draft Media Bill will have the same modus operandi as the existing council except with regard to appeals and offences.
"The addition of an Appeals Committee will only serve to impede the efficiency of the existing Complaints Committee.
"As for the proposed offences provision, this will contradict the constitution, which expressly upholds the freedom of expression.
"It may be used either implicitly or explicitly to attempt to control reportage, which is inconsistent with the government's powers and the interests of the community in the free flow of information and political ideas."
Referring to criticism of media in South Pacific countries over professional and ethical standards, The Fiji Times suggested it was best to work with the existing Media Council.
"The criticism focuses on the lack of professional training of journalists, poor education standards, lack of knowledge of political and social institutions, cultural insensitivities and a questionable grasp of ethical issues.
"We encourage the Fiji government to work with the existing Media Council (Fiji) Ltd to resolve these problems and perceptions.
"Control and regulation are inappropriate. The way forward is to improve the training and standard of journalism in Fiji, to which we are committed.
"Improvements in journalism in the region will only come from a government commitment to freedom of speech aimed at encouraging free-thinking, inquiring minds and a quest for truth.
"This can be achieved through journalists with the courage, determination and freedom to promote and provoke open discussion of issues like the unity theme, nation building and reconciliation."
Referring to the 1996 Thomson Report on legislative change for media in Fiji, which has been widely cited by government in support of its proposals, The Fiji Times said: "The report recommended that the media itself take greater responsibility for in-house professional development through local and international media collaboration.
"This would protect the constitutional rights and freedoms of the people of Fiji and advance the integrity of the Fiji media. Regulation as proposed in this Bill will inhibit that process."
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media based in Sydney, Journalism Studies at the University of PNG (UPNG), the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ), Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, and Community Communications Online (c2o).
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