Media labelled 'divisive and racist'
Title -- 5384 FIJI: Media labelled 'divisive and racist'
Date -- 20 March 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Radio Fiji Online 19/03/08
Copyright - RF
Status -- Unabridged
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FIJI'S MEDIA LABELLED 'DIVISIVE AND RACIST'
www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=9568
SUVA (RF Online/Pacific Media Watch): Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says Fiji’s media should be licensed because it is "divisive and racist".
He says it is not practising the way it should be and is not following media principles or ethics.
Chaudhry says Fiji’s media is not responsible with the freedom it has been given.
“Media freedom and any sort of freedom [is needed] with a sense of responsibility. And if the media cannot comply with its own ethics and if it cannot discipline itself in the matters of the ethics and the conduct of the media, then obviously legislation is necessary to ensure that the media does not play a role which is detrimental to the country -- which is dividing, which is racist in nature.
“This is the hallmark of a number of media organisations in Fiji which have not even hesitated to destabilise the country for its own narrow agenda,” he said.
Chaudhry says the media in Fiji has earned itself a critical hallmark through its biased reporting.
“Because of the bias that the media has shown in relation to number of issues, the media is creating a political agenda and they have sacrificed the principle of media ethics.
“They have not reported on matters accurately and in a fair and balanced manner. And they seem to be frequently biased with freedom,” he added.
Chaudhry added there is enough evidence to show why media legislation is important in Fiji.
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