Conference Dates: 4 – 6 July 2024
Venue: Holiday Inn Suva Hotel
Abstract Submission: 20 April 2024
Standard Registration Fees Deadline: 20 May 2024
Panel Submission: 5 May 2024
Full Paper Submission: 4 July 2024
The University of the South Pacific’s School of Pacific Arts, Communications and Education (Journalism) will host the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference, with its partners, the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and the Asia-Pacific Media Network (APMN).
The Pacific region is witnessing unprecedented shifts and challenges in its small and micro media systems due to various forces embedded in governance and political instability; the impact of intense geostrategic competition, primarily between China and the United States; challenges associated with climate change and environmental degradation; and serious issues in the health sector. These trends have compounded the situation in a region that has struggled to achieve sufficient and sustained levels of development for its people’s needs.
The news media, which has a major role in reporting these public interest issues, are themselves facing unprecedented challenges, primarily brought on by the digital disruption and the Covid-19 pandemic, on top of the usual difficulties prevalent in small and micro systems, such as low revenue base, high staff turnover and outsized government influence/pressure. The vulnerable Pacific media sector is reeling from the ramifications of changing audience expectations, rapidly declining revenues, and misinformation and disinformation on social media. Another challenge is the onset of Artificial Intelligence in both journalism education and practice. With the Pacific media sector in the throes of possibly the most profound phase of transformation in its history, it is imperative to monitor and research these turbulences, assess them as they unfold, and chart the way forward.
The 2024 Pacific Media Conference seeks to bring together professional practitioners, academics, policymakers, civil society organisations and others in the Pacific and beyond to engage in critical discussions on these and other topics relevant to the news media sector. We welcome abstracts from early career and postgraduate researchers.
Read our News from 2024 Pacific International Media Conference:
Baptist University of Hong Kong
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and former coordinator of USP Journalism
Three-time Emmy Award winner
Television New Zealand's Multimedia In-Depth Journalist
Regional director, Asia & the Pacific International Fund for Public Interest Media
Fiji Women's Rights Movement executive director
The 2024 Pacific International Media Conference chairperson
We are now calling for abstracts for research and conference papers, and panel proposals focused on the following topics and related themes in the Asia-Pacific:
8.00am: Registration.
8.45am: Welcome and Introduction, Associate Professor Shailendra Bahadur Singh, USP Journalism.
8.50am: Opening Remarks by Dr Matthew Hayward, Acting Head of School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education, USP.
8.55am: Introduction of Chief Guest by Professor Gurmeet Singh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and innovation, USP.
9.00am: Address by Chief Guest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica.
9.20am: Address by major sponsor: Mr John Degory – Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Fiji.
9.30am: Address by major sponsor: Ms Irene Jay Liu – Regional Director, Asia & the Pacific, International Fund for Public Interest Media.
9.40am-10.30am – Group photo, morning tea, networking.
10.30am: Keynote address – Professor Cherian George, Baptist University of Hong Kong. Cracks in the Mirror: When Media Representations Sharpen Social Divisions.
Moderator: Dr David Robie
11.00am: Panel Discussion — Media, Community, Social Cohesion and Conflict-Prevention.
Speakers: Dr Usha Harris, Ms Khairiah A Rahman, Dr Avinash Kumar, Dr Robert York
Moderator: Mr Nilesh Lal.
12.00pm-1.15pm – Lunch.
1.30pm: Keynote address — Dr David Robie New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), Asia Pacific Media Network. Frontline Media Faultlines: How Critical Journalism Can Survive Against the Odds.
Moderator: Professor Cherian George.
2.00pm: Parallel session 1-A— Social Media, Digital Disruption and Artificial Intelligence.
Speakers: Ms Nitika Nand, Dr Fiona Willans, Mr Mochamad Achir, Mr Jope Tarai.
Moderator: Professor Emily Drew.
2.00pm: Parallel session 1-B — Pacific Media, Geopolitics and Regional Reporting.
Speakers: Ms Lice Movono, Ms Marsali Mackinnon/Mr Kalafi Moala, Mr Nic Maclellan, Dr Nicholas Hoare.
Moderator: Dr Shailendra Singh.
3.00pm-3.30pm – Afternoon tea.
3.40pm: Parallel session 2-A— Navigating Media Law, Ethics, and Practice in Pacific Democracies.
Speakers: Professor Mark Pearson, Dr Amanda Watson, Mr Jope Tarai.
Moderator: Dr Usha Harris.
3.40pm: Parallel session 2-B—Media, Democracy, Human Rights and Governance:
Speakers: Dr Mosmi Bhim, Ms Lara Anwar, Professor Emily Drew.
Moderator: Ms Khairiah A Rahman.
4.40pm — End of presentations and discussions.
6.00-9.00pm — Conference dinner, book launch & 30th anniversary celebration of PJR
Chief Guest: PNG Minister for Information & Communication Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu.
Keynote Speaker: Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance Hon. Professor Biman Prasad.
9.00am: Keynote speaker— Ms Agatha Ferei, Chairperson, Fiji Media Council. Navigating the Post-Fiji Media Industry Development Act Landscape: The Role of the Fiji Media Council.
Moderator: Ms Lice Movono.
9.30am: Panel discussion— Pacific Assistance Media Scheme Pacific Editors’ Forum: The State of the Pacific Media and Future Directions.
Speakers: Ms Georgina Kekea, Mr Indra Singh, Mr Kora Nou, Mr Alexander Reeney, Mr Felix Chaudhary, Mr Vijay Narayan, Mr Rashneel Kumar, Mr Reginald Chandar.
Moderator: Dr Shailendra Singh.
10.40am-11.00am – Morning tea.
11.00am: Keynote address—Professor Emily Drew, US Embassy in Fiji invited speaker. Investigative Journalism in the Age of Newsroom Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Strategies.
Moderator: Dr Amanda Watson.
11.30am: Roundtable discussion —International Fund for Public Interest Media. Media sustainability in the Pacific: The role of government, industry and funders.
A roundtable hosted by the International Fund for Public Interest Media, which is launching a grant program to support Pacific media. An opportunity for media representatives and other stakeholders to meet the fund’s representatives to explore opportunities for support and collaboration.
Facilitator: Ms Irene J Liu.
12.30pm-1.30pm — Lunch.
1.40pm: Roundtable discussion —New Zealand Science Media Centre. Talanoa session on Experts on deadline: enriching news reporting on complex topics in the Pacific through science — Climate change, natural hazards, health crises, food security.
Facilitators: Ms Dacia Herbulock, Ms Indira Stewart, Ms Lyndal Byford.
2.40pm: Panel discission —Asia Pacific Media Network: Publish or perish? Challenges of Journalism Journals for the Global South/Asia Pacific.
Speakers: Professor Mark Pearson, Dr Philip Cass, Dr David Robie – New APMN strategy
Moderator: Professor Vijay Naidu.
3.40pm-4.00pm – Afternoon tea.
4.00pm: Panel discussion—Covering Climate from a Solutions Journalism Lens.
Speakers: Ms Lice Movono, Ms Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, Ms Samantha Magick.
Moderator: Dr Kalinga Seneviratne.
5pm — Reception.
Hosted by the United States Embassy Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Venue: Albert Park Pavilion (Opposite the Grand Pacific Hotel).
9.00am: Keynote Address—Ms Nalini Singh, Executive Director, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. It is my Workplace too! Stop Sexual Harassment!
Moderator: Dr Rajni Chand.
9.25am: Panel discussion — Gender and Media in the Pacific: Examining Violence that Women Face with Media.
Speakers: Ms Laisa Bulatale, Ms Georgina Kekea, Ms Jacqui Berrell, Ms Lice Movono, Dr Shailendra Bahadur Singh.
Moderator: Ms Nalini Singh.
10.40am-11.00am – Morning tea.
11.00am: Parallel session 1-A—Assessing Pacific Media Landscape: from Columnists to Coverage.
Speakers: Dr Jeremy Dorovolomo, Dr Philip Cass, Dr Subhas Appana.
Moderator: Dr Amanda Watson
11.00am: Parallel session 1-B— Why Pacific Media need to look more towards Asia.
Speakers: Ms Samanmale Swarnalatha, Nauzab Fareed.
Moderator: Dr Kalinga Seneviratne.
12.00pm-1.15pm – Lunch.
1.15pm: Parallel session 2-A—COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health in Journalism.
Speakers: Dr Ravindra Prajapati/Mr Sarvesh Chand/Dennis Sen; Ms Asinate Korocowiri.
Moderator: Dr Jeremy Dorovolomo.
1.15pm: Parallel session 2-B—Media Sustainability; Indigenous and Vernacular Media.
Speakers: Dr Amit Sarwal, Ms Karol Ilagan, Mr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Ravindra Prajapati/Nilesh Kumar.
Moderator: Dr Frank Thomas.
2.15pm: Vote of Thanks and Closing of Conference.
2.45pm-3.20pm – Afternoon tea.
Conference Committee:
Committee Members:
| Categories | Amount | Deadline |
| Standard | FJD $400 | 20 May 2024 |
| Student | FJD $300 | 20 May 2024 |
*Students will need to present their student ID card as proof to qualify for special discount.
*Conference fee covers morning tea and lunch over the three days, plus conference dinner with ‘Island Feast’ theme.
Submissions for abstracts, papers and panels can be sent to the conference chair, A/Prof Shailendra Singh, on following email address: shailendra.singh@usp.ac.fj
Abstracts Deadline: 20 April 2024
Please submit abstracts (max 300w) with presentation title, 5 key words, name, affiliation and email address. Results of abstract review returned to authors generally within 4 weeks.
Panels Deadline: 5 May 2024
Panel proposals should include a 200-word overview, with 200 words from each participant on their contribution, as well as a panel title, author/s and affiliation and keywords. Results of panel proposals confirmed generally within 4 weeks.
Full Paper Deadline: 4 July 2024
The editors will be inviting a selection of the best conference papers to be considered for publication in a special edition of the Pacific Journalism Review (PJR ) or its companion publication Pacific Media Monographs:
Deadline for Papers for double-blind Peer Review
31 August 2024
