The USP Journalism programme started in Suva in 1988, with Commonwealth funding, and a handful of students to its name. It has produced more than 200 graduates serving the Pacific and beyond in various media and communication roles.

Founding coordinator, the late Australian-based Kiwi academic Murray Masterton, recalled that from the outset, some USP academics felt that journalism was a vocational course with no place in a university.

An injection of French government funds in 1993 provided a new lease of life, with the programme upgraded to a BA double-major degree. The three-year grant was supervised by François Turmel, former BBC World Service editor in London. During those lean years, Turmel often dug into his pockets to fund some activities.

When French funding ended in 1996, USP took over the programme, appointing another Kiwi coordinator in David Robie, a former international journalist, then head of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) journalism programme.

During his term from 1998–2002, Prof Robie made major curriculum changes by integrating the student training newspaper, Wansolwara, into the assessment and introducing professional work attachments with news media organisations.

The USP Journalism Programme is currently coordinated by Associate Professor Shailendra Singh.

SPREP Vision Pasifika Climate Change Media Awards

2022 Winner, Tertiary Level Journalism Student Category

2009 Winner, Print edition, Student Category

2010 Winner, Print edition, Student Category

PINA/ SPREP Award for Environmental Journalism

2007 Winner, Student Category, Best Print Story

Ossie Awards

Journalism Education Association 2009 Highly commended, Print edition, Best News Story

2007 Winner, Print edition, Best News Story

2007 Highly commended, Print edition, Best News Story

2006 Highly commended, Print edition, Best News Story

2006 Highly commended, Print edition, Best Feature Story

2005 Highly commended, Print edition, Best News Story

2004 Winner, Print edition, Best Regular Publication (any medium)

2002 Winner, Print edition, Best Regular Publication (any medium)

2000 Winner, Online edition, Best Regular Publication

2000 Highly commended, Print edition, Best Regular Publication

1999 Highly commended, Print edition, Best Regular Publication

Fiji Awards for Media Excellence (FAME)

2008 Best Student Journalist

2007 Winner, Print edition, Best News Story

2007 Winner, Student Journalist of the Year

2005 Winner, Best Print News Story

Fiji Human Rights Commission Award

1999 Winner, Media Category