By MONIKA SINGH
Acting Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad has commended the University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme for its contributions to journalism scholarship, particularly its research on Pacific media, which has been published in top-ranked international journals.
Prof. Prasad made this remark and highlighted the contribution of the head of the programme, Associate Professor Shailendra Singh, to the discipline, in his keynote and opening address at the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union and the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation’s (FBC) Pacific Media Partnership Conference 2025, held at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday. The conference coincided with the 70th anniversary of FBC Radio, the formal launch of FBC’s Media Academy and World Radio Day 2025.
He emphasised the importance of media training and urged media organisations to look beyond daily routines and deadlines to reflect on and advance the industry and profession.
“Research into the media in Fiji and the Pacific is essential to inform and improve journalism,” he said.
“The USP Journalism Programme is the only institution conducting regular research on Pacific media, addressing a critical gap in international understanding of journalism cultures worldwide.”
As a strong advocate for media freedom, academic freedom, and knowledge creation, Prof. Prasad highlighted that the government had restored USP’s annual Government of Fiji grant funding, which had been halted by the previous administration.
“This anti-USP and anti-intellectual action, driven by political motives and the former government’s personal dislike of those who disagreed with it, was one of the most egregious attacks on academia, with far-reaching consequences not just for Fiji, but for the entire region.”
Prof. Prasad stated that reinstating the USP grant revitalised the university’s academic culture and enabled government support for USP Journalism’s 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in July.
He underscored the value of such conferences, noting that they provided a platform to share ideas, reflect on media practices, and engage in critical debates.
Prof. Prasad, who was a keynote speaker at the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in Suva, co-edited the book Waves of Change: Media, Peace, and Development in the Pacific with colleagues Dr Singh and Dr Amit Sarwal, former Deputy Head of School (Research) at the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education and currently a consultant with the Journalism Programme.
He highlighted that his co-authored chapter advocates for journalism in the Pacific to reflect national and regional contexts while integrating conflict-sensitive reporting to strengthen the media’s watchdog role and ensure public accountability.
“A chapter I co-authored, titled ‘Peace Journalism and Conflict Reporting in Fragile Pacific Societies: Challenges and Opportunities,’ argues that journalism in the Pacific region must be informed by national and regional contexts while critically examining alternative reporting frameworks, such as conflict-sensitive reporting, to complement and balance the media’s watchdog role. This is crucial for the public interest, including holding leaders to account.”
