By Nacanieli Tuilevuka in Savusavu
Fiji Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged Pacific journalists to check and verify information before disseminated it to the public, warning that the rise of artificial intelligence, synthetic content and digital manipulation had added to the challenges facing journalists.
Speaking at the opening of the 8th PINA Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu, Fiji, yesterday, he said headlines could reach thousands of people before facts were properly checked and verified.
False claims, he added, could spread before accurate information reached the public.
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“This is why professional standards matter more than ever,” he said.
He said his call for caution was not a call for journalists to remain silent.
“This is not a call for silence. It is a call for responsible journalism.”
Inflamed social tensions
He called for greater caution, especially, when reporting issues that could inflame social tensions or contribute to conflict, particularly as information spreads rapidly online.
“Information can travel across the world in seconds or in fractions of a second,” he said.
He said digital innovation should strengthen public understanding and regional co-operation rather than become a tool for misinformation, disinformation or sensationalism that divided communities.
Rabuka also called for greater media literacy, saying citizens needed to question what they saw and heard, while journalists needed to verify information.
He said newsrooms also needed to adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining professional standards.
“Freedom also comes with responsibility.”
He said a free, independent and professional media remained important to a healthy democracy.
‘Check Pacific’ launched
Pacnews correspondent Pita Ligaiula reports that Cook Islands News editor Rashneel Kumar has called for Pacific media, civil society and universities to work together to tackle the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation across the region.
Speaking at the media summit, he introduced “Check Pacific”, a new platform aimed at bringing regional organisations and practitioners together to respond to misinformation.
“We want our civil societies, our media practitioners, and universities to come together and work together to actually battle this misinformation,” he said.
Kumar said misinformation and disinformation were major challenges for Pacific countries, particularly given the region’s geographical remoteness and separation.
Republished with permission.
This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by Pacific Media Watch.
Pacific Media Watch | Radio Free (2026-09-24T11:22:32+00:00) Rabuka urges Pacific media to verify facts, warns over rise of AI. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2026/09/24/rabuka-urges-pacific-media-to-verify-facts-warns-over-rise-of-ai/
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