SUVA (Fiji Times /Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji media should form an association to look after the interests of journalists, says a media industry advocate.
"Before we can transform societies, as is the theme for this year, we should be able to speak out on issues that concern our own work," said Matai Akoula, training manager of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA).
Journalists met on Thursday to celebrate World Press Freedom Day at the Fiji Television office in Suva.
Akoula said the agenda for the meet was the forming of a union-like association.
"We want to form an association that will look after our interests, fight for our pay, help us get our jobs if we've been unreasonably sacked and generally help us as journalists." He said.
"Journalists reported on other workers' unions but did not have an association themselves.
"We can complain to the Media Authority, yes, but at least have some sort of body to back us up."
The veteran journalist, who is also a member of the Media Industry Development Authority, said the issue of a union-like association for the media was an idea that "we've been trying to form all along".
He said the association would be chosen by the journalists themselves and it is the hope of the PINA executive that one representative from each media organisation would be able to form the association committee.
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