Media, Students to Tackle Peace and Press Freedom at Historic Fiji Forum

The role of media in promoting peace while continuing to hold power to account will take centre stage this week as The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme and Fiji National University’s School of Language, Communication and Literature jointly host Fiji’s 2026 World Press Freedom Day 2026 in what organisers describe as a first-of-its-kind collaboration.

The event, which will be held on Tuesday, 5 May from 10am to 12pm at the Australia-Pacific Performance Space at USP’s Laucala Campus, will bring together journalism students, media professionals, civil society representatives, government stakeholders, and members of the public for critical discussions around this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace.”

Head of Journalism at The University of the South Pacific, Associate Professor Dr. Shailendra Singh, said the theme was particularly relevant given Fiji’s ongoing national efforts toward social cohesion.

“This year’s discussions centre on the theme ‘Shaping a Future at Peace,’ which is particularly fitting given Fiji’s national efforts toward social cohesion,” Dr Singh said.

He noted that government’s prioritisation of social cohesion is underscored by the fact that the initiative is being led by the Office of the Prime Minister of Fiji, with support from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts.

“Every sector should get behind this state effort, including the media,” Professor Singh said.

He said the collaboration between USP and FNU also sends an important message about the role tertiary institutions can play in shaping the next generation of journalists and communicators.

The celebrations will feature Assistant Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts, Shalen Kumar, as chief guest, while the keynote address will be delivered by Heike Alefsen, Pacific Representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

A major highlight of the event will be a panel discussion titled, “Exploring media’s role in divided societies: can media be both peacemaker and watchdog?” moderated by Dr Singh and featuring journalism students, media practitioners, and civil society voices.

The forum is expected to explore one of journalism’s most pressing modern challenges — how the media can remain fiercely independent and committed to truth, while also contributing to dialogue, understanding, and peace in increasingly complex and divided societies.