FIJI
By Samisoni Kakaivalu, Editor, Fiji Times Limited
24 February 2003

Fiji is well served by a vibrant media industry including radio, print, television and magazines. Service is provided in English and the two vernacular languages - Fijian and Hindi. There are three daily newspapers, two weekly vernacular newspapers, free to air and pay television, two radio broadcasting companies, several news and business magazines and various public relations and advertising agencies.

NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
The main newspapers are the Fiji Times, founded in 1869 and now owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited. It has the biggest circulation in comparison to the other two dailies. The Daily Post, established in 1987 to fill the vacuum left by the closure of the Fiji Sun, is locally owned with the Fiji Government being the major shareholder. The other newspaper is the Fiji Sun - which began operation in 2000-is owned by a group of local businesses. The three newspapers publish daily.

VERNACULAR NEWSPAPERS
Nai Lalakai (Fijian) and the Shanti Dut (Hindi) are published weekly by the Fiji Times, while the Daily Post publishes Volasiga (Fijian).

MAGAZINES
The Review and Islands Business are based in Suva. Islands Business cover regional issues while the Review is Fiji oriented.

RADIO
Fiji has two broadcasting companies-Islands Network, which is government owned and the privately-owned Communications Fiji Ltd (established in 1985). Service is provided in the three main languages-Hindi, English and Fijian. Islands Network with five stations operates the country's most extensive broadcast service. It has a commercial service (Bula FM) and a government-subsidised public service. Communications Fiji Ltd operates three independent commercial stations.

TELEVISION
First introduced in 1991, Fiji has only one TV station whose 12-year exclusive licence expires on January 2001. The shareholders are Yasana Holdings-51%, TV New Zeland -5%, Telecom Fiji - 14%; and the remaining 30% have been sold to the public. Transmission coverage although not country-wide yet covers majority of the population.

MEDIA FREEDOM
In comparison to other countries in the region, Fiji journalists can basically report on anything so long as they are accurate without fear of being harassed. There is a Fiji Media Council which represents and is funded by the media organisations. It adjudicates on public complaints against the media and acts as a voice for media owners in public. The Council is facing a threat of a new media legislation from the Government and plans to oppose any moves towards that.