THE media in Fiji sometimes lacks commitment to issues such as the privatisation of water.
Responding to the Fiji Human Rights Commission media report, the Ecumenical Centre for Research Education and Advocacy (ECREA) executive Chantelle Khan said a lot had been said about media freedom.
"There is also the discussion about the media being corporate owned and controlled in reality, meaning that the media is merely an extension or mouth piece for the elite," she said.
"It has been duly noted that the media plays a very big role in the shaping of perception in Fiji.
"At times this responsibility is not respected through lack of commitment to the issues (eg. the privatisation of water), poor journalism standards, lack of balance in selecting stories and the ever present pressure to sell papers.
"Perhaps it is now clear that the media is no longer about the news and education but about profits and this is largely accepted."
However, Ms Khan said they believed that there should be no infringement on media freedom or expressions by media outlets in reporting events not from any State authority whether it be democratically elected or military installed.
"It is essential for people to understand that the role of the media is important in allowing a nation to speak and voice opinions and challenge those in power and it is a privilege to be able to do so."
