Never has Fiji gone through more challenging times.
So I take The Fiji Times’ 152nd anniversary as an opportunity to thank and pay tribute to its staff for their courageous and committed reporting on matters of national interest and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This has played a key role in keeping Fijians informed about the virus. Like it or not, the threats of COVID-19 are now a dreadful reality.
However, we depend on reliable and fact-checked information of The Fiji Times to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.
We are living in a world and time when the public has a lot of information. Verifying facts for public consumption and bearing witness to the truth have become more important than ever – even more so in a severely challenged media landscape. News and diverse opinions, presented clearly and simply, are critical to our choices.
Getting to that is not always a perfect process. Not everyone agrees with The Fiji Times or its choices, but it plays an important role regardless of the backlash it can face at times for different reasons.
It may not be able to satisfy everyone, but it will do its best to strike a balance in coverage and uphold the values of good journalism.
The Fiji Times has highlighted the plight of many; the under privileged, the poor, the disenfranchised and more. It has spoken out when it was easy to look the other way and not report at all.
It continues to seek the truth even in the face of threats rather than cowering from the ideals of good journalism.
The Fiji Times’ core slogan – “YOUR VOICE Since 1869” is a daily reminder for us all about its place in our lives, and Fiji’s, beginning on September 4, 1869.
It is a window into the reality of life in Fiji, and why good, strong, unbiased, and influential journalism must survive.
It is worth remembering what the founder, George Littleton Griffiths, said in the newspaper’s first editorial comment: “The only promise that we can make is that we shall watch the times and try to make our paper a public good; a practical, useful, and honest medium for the support of honour, truth and right. We have no party interest to serve and are open upon all occasions for free discussion, subject only to the usual restrictions of a free press”.
Let me also remind valued readers of the passage from the first editorial; more than 150 years ago. “We make no pretensions of greatness,” it said, “and remember that little boats, to be safe, must keep near the shore”.
Today, we believe, that “little boat” has ventured much further from the shore.
The journey has never been an easy one but along the way The Fiji Times has copped flak, taken criticism in its stride, and moved on for the greater good of the people and the nation.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day had a powerful theme: “Information is a Public Good”.
This could not have come at a more appropriate time.
This theme is apt and a true reflection of The Fiji Times.
It is a reminder about its important duty to safeguard information as a public good and uphold the public’s right to information.
We are reminded that this is a great responsibility.
Today we are proud to own a newspaper trusted by tens of thousands of Fiji citizens every day.
The trust and goodwill of the newspaper can only prosper if it provides independent news.
This is what The Fiji Times has done for generations.
Free and independent journalism is our greatest ally in combating disinformation and misinformation, and we understand our responsibility to support this philosophy in good times and bad, so that it can stay that way.
We will always stand for press freedom.
Since its humble beginnings in 1869, The Fiji Times’ charter has been to strive for accuracy and balance with the intention to do justice to every story it prints and every picture it uses.
I take this opportunity to wish all Fijians and The Fiji Times readers the very best in staying safe as we continue to face multiple challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that access to accurate and comprehensive news coverage has never been more important.
In this endeavour, The Fiji Times will continue to give its readers a newspaper that holds true to the ideals of good journalism. Without truth, it can’t have trust.
Thank you for the patience and interest that you readers show daily towards The Fiji Times.
Let’s continue to stay safe by adhering to COVID-19 protocols as these are certainly not normal times, we are not immune to the dangers of the virus, and I ask that you keep faith that we will triumph over this deadly virus and get back to normal lives.
Congratulations to The Fiji Times on your 152nd anniversary and continuing the legacy of holding firmly to the ideals of good journalism.
- Kirit Prabhudas Patel Chairman Fiji Times Pte Limited Chairman & CEO | Motibhai Group of Companies.
