In July 2024, we launched an ambitious project to address the critical challenges facing public interest media across six Pacific island countries: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Fiji.
Building on our earlier work in media development in Solomon Islands, we are working to support open, accountable, and diverse media at local, regional and national levels, creating a healthier information ecosystem in which accurate, trusted, and engaging public interest media content reaches and engages all audiences.
We're also aiming to build audiences' resilience to misinformation and disinformation, as internet access grows across the region.
These Pacific islands have had historically low rates of access to social media. But as communities come online and begin to rely on social media for information, audiences are exposed to growing amounts of online misinformation; low levels of digital and media literacy make them particularly vulnerable.
Public interest media in the region are also threatened by economic challenges; traditional methods of generating revenue - such as advertising - are no longer effective and they face high staff turnover, low production capacity, distribution challenges and language barriers.
麻豆社 Media Action Country Director for Pacific Islands, Rachael McGuin, said at the project launch:
鈥淭rusted, public interest media are essential to democratic stability and governance in the Pacific region 鈥� people need to know who and what they can trust for news and information, and to have platforms for peaceful, respectful discussion and debate.
鈥淭hrough this project, we will support Pacific island nations鈥� media to deliver trusted, impartial information and content to their audiences. We鈥檙e looking forward to working with local media partners, media associations and other stakeholders, and grateful to the UK Government for funding this important work.鈥�
麻豆社 Media Action began a pilot project of work in Solomon Islands in 2023, supporting the national broadcaster SIBC to launch its first-ever series of community debates ahead of elections in summer 2024. This project will expand and build on that work, which has also covered reporting in emergencies, on climate change and adaptation, and gender-sensitive reporting.
This project in the Pacific Islands is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Read the press release.
