Fiji: Ministry of Information tightens censorship

August 26th, 2011

Today, Fiji’s Ministry of Information sent a mass e-mail asking media outlets and journalists to send all news headlines to censors half an hour before stories are published, following soldiers being photographed removing anti-regime graffiti from public property. Fiji’s military-backed regime began requiring daily monitoring of all news stories last April.

Fiji: Legislation cements the media censorship

July 12th, 2010

New laws enacted in Fiji permit the state to seize broadcasting equipment, documents, force journalists to reveal their sources and fine media organisations up to $100,000. The media industry development decree enacted on 28 June also requires newspapers to be 90 per cent locally owned. This stipulation could force a number of publications to close. The new laws follow 2009 government legislation that legalised the arbitrary vetting of broadcast stations and newspaper offices to ensure their editorial line is conducive with that of the Fijian leader Commodore Bainimarama.

Fiji to increase media censorship

April 9th, 2010

A draft decree by the Fiji’s military-backed regime calls for tighter control of the media and increased press censorship. The proposals, announced on Wednesday, would require daily monitoring of all news stories, as well as new restrictions on cross-media ownership. This would directly affect Fiji Times, one of the nation’s oldest and largest newspapers which is owned by the Australian company News Limited. Breaches of content regulation could result in media organisations, publishers and journalists being fined and imprisoned for up to five years.

Australian journalist deported from Fiji

April 14th, 2009

Award-winning ABC journalist Sean Dorney has arrived in Australia after being deported from Fiji, as the military there cracks down on the media. Read more here