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The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) thanked Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for the DCGA government’s support to the local media in ensuring media are free to do their job. MASI Executive members met with the Prime Minister on Thursday 23 February 2023 before he left for Fiji for the Pacific Special Leaders Retreat. The purpose of the MASI visit to the Prime Minister was to share some of their concerns for the industry. The outgoing MASI Executive took the opportunity to raise concerns in the industry that needed to be brought to the government’s attention. Some of the issues include the gap in human resources and opportunities for Solomon Islanders in journalism because of lack of scholarship priorities, accreditation of journalists, self-regulatory mechanism for Solomon Islands journalists among other issues.
Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed the concerns raised by MASI and for the opportunity to meet and dialogue over these issues and more, affecting both the
media and the government. In the visit, the Honourable Prime Minister also enlightened the MASI representatives on the government’s support for the National Broadcaster, SIBC in their quest for a television service. ‘The government is committed to support SIBC. They’ve been here 70 years now and it is about time they get the support they need’, Sogavare said. The MASI Board thanked Sogavare for the government’s support to SIBC and encouraged the government to use the media to also host debates to discuss issues of national interest. ‘Having this sort of public debate and discussion will help our people get a good understanding of where the government stands on certain issues of national interest and topics and the reasons why’, the MASI representatives said.
The Prime Minister thanked MASI for the courtesy visit and pledged his support to the work of MASI in the country. The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI’s) mission is to provide strong leadership and support members of the media industry, its stakeholders and the community to provide up-to-date, quality news and information to all Solomon Islanders without fear or favor. Apart from promotion, observance and protection of human rights and maintenance
of media freedom in the country, another objective of MASI is to facilitate and strengthen positive relations with the public, community groups, government and non-government organizations. MASI is a charitable organization, established to serve the interest of its members in the media industry.
SOURCE: MASI
