Media freedom Essential for Democracy To thrive

Today is World Press (Media) Freedom Day. Reporters Without Borders in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index on April 21, notes that the coronavirus is being used by authoritarian governments to implement “shock doctrine” measures that would be impossible in normal times.

The index shows a “clear correlation between suppression of media freedom in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and a country’s ranking in the Index.”

Of the 180 countries and territories in the index, Fiji is ranked 52nd. That’s a jump from 57th the previous year.

We feel that we should be sitting higher than this organisation gives us credit, with its thinking still mired in the past.

The media has been free in reporting the developments during COVID-19. The daily media briefing by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and other Government officials, has allowed transparency and accountability to be practised.

What is of concern, however, is the spread of misinformation and fake news in social media, especially during this crisis.

While the Police have cracked down on the perpetrators it is being wrongly misconstrued by some as an attack on media freedom.

It must be clarified that social media is different to mainstream media which does its best to check out the authenticity and factual evidence of any report before it goes to print or to air.

Social media fake news can cause unnecessary alarm and panic in the community.

The media here has been free to report on COVID-19 and there have been some great human interest stories on the heroic deeds of our frontliners.

Reporters without Borders says the long-term risks of suppressing press freedom have been exposed by the pandemic. It adds as the death toll mounts amidst an economic crisis of unprecedented proportions, promoting transparent reporting is a global necessity. Yet, several countries stand accused of acting too late in warning the world about the timing and extent of the threat.

Fiji is not on that list because it acted early and prepared well before the first case arrived in the country, The no death and low infection rate is testament of our high alert level.

The mainstream media including this newspaper has done an excellent job in disseminating information to the people with the support of the authorities during the lockdowns and curfew.

It highlights the important role that the media plays particularly in a crisis. People are desperate to know what’s going on. The pictures of people reading the

Fiji Sun in the old capital Levuka and Labasa, the hub of the North, were classic because the Fiji Sun was the only newspaper circulating there during those days.

On this World Press Freedom Day let’s spare a thought for journalists and all media workers for the work they do to keep people informed.

They help keep our democracy ticking during these difficult times.