The Attorney General has stressed that the government wants to implement the Media Industry Development Decree as soon as possible, and it would not want to have unnecessary delay in its implementation.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is holding consultations with stakeholders in Lautoka today.
This is expected to be the final round of consultations as the consultations for Labasa has been cancelled due to no expressions of interest received from the Northern division.
Sayed-Khaiyum also confirmed that the Public Emergency Decree will be lifted as soon as the Media Decree comes into place.
When asked on the issue of balance and fairness which is included in the Code of Ethics and Practices section of the current draft decree, Sayed-Khaiyum said balance and fairness is important.
The question was then raised in the consultations with the stakeholders yesterday on whether people like the politicians and unionists will be allowed to comment if there are issues where stories have to be balanced.
The Attorney General replied that the PER will no longer be in place so the restrictions do not apply when the Media Decree is implemented.
However Sayed-Khaiyum said all media outlets should ensure that their stories are fair and balanced which is clearly stated in the draft decree.
A Media Development Authority will also be established when the decree is implemented.
The Authority is expected to ensure that all the media outlets in Fiji are adhering to the Code of Ethics and Practices, and encourages, promotes and facilitates the development of media organisations and services in Fiji.
The Director of the Authority shall be appointed by the Minister responsible.
Sayed-Khaiyum said he agrees that the Media Development Authority should consist of a board including people from the cross-section of the society.
The role of the Authority include investigating any complaint, make such efforts as it sees fit to facilitate the resolution of the matter in question, including mediation, or refer the complaint to the Media Tribunal.
The Tribunal decision will be final and cannot be challenged in any court, tribunal or commission.
The draft decree also has a section on Content Regulation which deals with penalties.
This section states that the content of any media service must not include material which is against the public interest or order, is against national interest, offends against good taste or decency or creates communal discord.
The section further states that the content of any print media must include a byline and wherever practical, the content of any other media service must include a byline.
It further states that a breach of any of the provisions under the section Content Regulation by a media organisation shall constitute an offence and the media organisation shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or in the case of a publisher or editor or journalist a fine not exceeding $100,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.
Several offences in relation to breach of the Media Code of Ethics, and offences under the draft Media Decree carry maximum fines for media organisations of $500,000, and maximum prison sentences of 5 years.
For the offending journalist, editor or publisher, the maximum fines for many offences are $100,000, and the maximum prison sentence is 5 years.
A number of the media stakeholders who attended the consultations raised the issue in relation to the penalties.
Some suggested that the maximum fines and prison sentences should be reduced and that only the media organisation should be fined, not the journalist editor or publisher concerned.
Some individuals said they were happy with the maximum penalties.
Media decree will be implemented soon and will ensure balance-AG
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