World Press Freedom Day
SOMETIMES we have to take a break. Whether it is to get a breather, or to get our bearings, it should be good for us all. In fact it is an opportunity to reflect on a journey. Such moments in time are important for they can reveal who we are, our hopes and aspirations as individuals, and the value we place on what we each do.
We have said this before… they can show us our place in history, and how we can all assist in the development of our nation.
On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, much like what we did on October 9, 2010, we believe it is time to take that break and talk about our journey as an organisation.
Today we stand poised in an ocean of moments, reaching out for the reigns of change that we know we must take hold of to chart our own destiny.
We relive our charter which was published in 2010. ‘Rich in history, we look forward with positive minds, eager to shrug off unwanted perceptions.
‘Over the years, we know we have been tagged as a newspaper hell-bent on being a pain in the back of the State. It was an unwanted tag.
‘To be seen as anti-government or pro-government are charges that do us no favour as a responsible media organisation.
‘We would rather be seen as a newspaper that takes no side; simply a newspaper of integrity.
‘Integrity is regarded as the quality of having an intuitive sense of honesty and truthfulness. It is the opposite of hypocrisy.
‘We are not a newspaper hell-bent on hurting a government. Our passion is to ensure our readers know we have a sense of fairness about us.
‘Our charter is to strive for accuracy and balance with the intention to do justice to every story we print and picture we use. We are not anti-government and we are not pro-government.
‘We are very, very pro-Fiji and living proof of this is our 153-year record as recorders of history in this nation. We are The Fiji Times, striving to ensure any perception that paints us otherwise is easily washed off.
‘We will endeavour to make sure our readers see in us a newspaper that is easy to read, has entertaining and educational information and pictures, plus believability and authority.
‘We are proudly owned in Fiji and our good people are doing their best with heads held high.
‘Together we can do good for our country and we hope to live up to the image that has etched indelible marks on the minds of hundreds of thousands of readers over the 153 years of our existence.
‘We are about people, values, honesty, commitment, perseverance and unity.
‘We are open to new ideas that will ensure we have a place in the lives of every citizen in our beautiful country.
‘Sleep assured we are firmly committed to helping our country move forward.
‘Today we again reiterate our desire to be rid of any unwanted perceptions.
‘We strive to give you a newspaper that is fair, just, balanced and honest.
‘Today, we strive to give you a newspaper that holds true to the ideals of good journalism.’
On the eve of a very special day for journalists, we reflect on the meaning of media freedom, and the vital role the media must play in the dissemination of information to the public.