Some reporters in the region face jail for alleged defamation in countries where news outlets often lack resources to defend lawsuits
The Pacific is facing a “critical moment” for press freedom, the region’s media watchdog has warned, as a number of senior journalists in a range of Pacific countries are facing costly lawsuits and criminal prosecution for alleged defamation.
“We have seen a few cases coming up … challenging the fundamentals of press freedom in the region,” said Robert Iroga, the chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Iroga said that Pacific countries – while all distinct and with separate laws governing media – often face similar cultural and economic challenges that affect press freedom.
These include the fact that news outlets are often small with very limited budgets, which means defending lawsuits brought against them can often bankrupt an outlet.
