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* Pacific Media Watch Online: http://www.pmw.c2o.org
SUVA: Fiji's military-backed interim administration will proceed with
plans for a decree covering media regulation covering print media and
broadcasting, according to news reports.
Fiji Television on 15 August 2000 and the Fiji Times on August 16
reported that the interim cabinet established last month after the May
19 insurrection deposed the elected government of Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry planned a media decree.
The proposed decree was said to follow a 1998 Thomson Foundation report
which influenced media policy for both the previous Sitiveni Rabuka and
Chaudhry governments.
According to the Fiji Times, the new media decree would cover issues
such as:
* The "establishment" of the Fiji Media Council.
* The Fiji Media Code of Practice.
* Guidelines in cross-media ownership.
* "Qualitative aspects" of both the print and broadcasting media.
The new media would also empower a proposed "independent" Fiji Media
Council to regulate the content and conduct of the print and broadcast
media according to a Code of Practice, the Fiji Times reported.
"This is aimed at protecting what cabinet considers 'reasonable and
justifiable media freedom'," the paper said.
"The council will be funded by its media industry members and will have
an independent chairman, unconnected with the media industry.
"Complaints from members of the public will be heard by a committee that
will be advised by working journalists.
"Cabinet is also looking at developing specific legislation with regards
to newspapers and the Fiji Broadcasting [Corporation].
"The Ministry of Information and Communication will continue with
consultations towards the development of the media decree and other
related legislation."
* An independent Media Council already exists in the Fiji Islands and it
has an independent complaints committee. Member media organisations
include The Fiji Times group, Associated Media (The Review and
FijiLive), Communications Fiji Ltd, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Fiji
Television Ltd, Islands Business International Ltd, and Fiji's Daily
Post. It has an equal number of lay members and is chaired by an
independent chair, Daryl Tarte.
In October 1999, the council released its revised "General Media Code
of
Ethics and Practice".
+++niuswire
Title -- 2901 FIJI: New media regulation decree planned
Date -- 16 August 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- PMW/Fiji TV/Fiji Times, 16/8/00
Copyright -- PMW/FT
Status -- Unabridged
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