Dialogue Fiji Hosts Training for Journalists on Electoral Systems and Reform

Dialogue Fiji had conducted a specialised training programme for journalists focused on electoral systems and the challenges of electoral reform, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote democratic governance in Fiji.

The one-day workshop, held in Suva, last week Thursday, was facilitated by world-renowned electoral expert Mr. Alan Wall.

It brought together journalists from major mainstream media organisations, including The Fiji Times, Fiji Sun, Fijivillage, the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), Fiji Television, and MaiTV. Student journalists from the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji National University (FNU), and FemLink Pacific — a civil society organisation that operates a community radio station — also participated in the session.

Opening the training, Mr. Gianluca Vanini, Programme Manager for Education, Civil Society, and Health at the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, highlighted the importance of media capacity-building in promoting informed public discourse on electoral reform and democratic processes.

According to Dialogue Fiji, the workshop aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of electoral systems — particularly the distinctions between proportional representation and majoritarian systems — and to better equip them to report accurately and analytically on Fiji’s ongoing electoral reform process.

Prominent figures in Fiji’s media and journalism education sectors also attended the event, including Chair of the Fiji Media Council Ms. Agatha Furevai and Dr. Shailendra Singh, Head of USP’s Journalism Programme. Dialogue Fiji noted that Dr. Singh and the USP Journalism Programme are key partners in its broader initiatives around journalism training, media development, and research.

Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Mr. Nilesh Lal said the training was organised in response to a growing need for subject-matter knowledge among journalists covering electoral reform.

“Electoral reform is one of the most consequential political processes a country can undertake. The media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of these reforms. We believe that equipping journalists with deeper knowledge of the subject enables more meaningful reporting and contributes to a well-informed electorate,” said Mr. Lal.