Fiji newspaper chastised

SUVA – Fiji’s opposition party has welcomed a finding by the Fiji Media Industry Development Authority against the Fiji Sun newspaper.

The Chairman of the authority, Ashwin Raj, determined that an article in the Fiji Sun, by the journalist Jyoti Pratibha, was “antagonistic, thoroughly yoked in the logic of race and bereft of facts.”

The article, headlined: “Person of the Year: The PM who delivers”, blamed the opposition parties for being racist and divisive but provided no evidence for the claim.

The ruling also referred to an article that defamed the President of Sodelpa’s Youth wing, Peter Waqavonuvonu, which was ruled incriminating and in breach of the media decree.

Raj told the newspaper it must adhere to balance, accuracy and the principles of responsible journalism.

The Principal Administrative Officer of the Opposition, Mick Beddoes, says the finding was fair and reasonable, and that the Fiji Sun has a campaign against Sodelpa.