Fiji Times deputy editor Sophie Foster: Latest "loss" in newspaper turmoil. Photo: Fiji Times

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Losalini Rasoqosoqo in Suva

A second top Fiji Times editor is no longer in the newsroom amid what appears to be turmoil at the top, colleagues said yesterday.

Deputy editor Sophie Foster has suddenly taken leave, they said.

This came after Sunday Times editor Fred Wesley was appointed acting editor-in-chief following the abrupt departure of Netani Rika. Read more »

The Fiji media panel at the Oceans, Islands and Skies conference in Suva: Alumeci Nakeke (from left), USP head of journalism Shailendra Singh, Dawn Gibson and Ricardo Morris. Photo: David Robie/PMC

Pacific Scoop
Report – By Pacific Media Watch in Suva

Three editors and journalists today welcomed news of the sale of the Fiji Times to a local Fiji business as good for environmental journalism reporting in the region.

But they reserved judgment on the future independence of the newspaper under future owners Motibhai. Read more »

Sir Julius Chan ... backing Simberi landowners and furious with the mine management. Photo: Malum Nalu

Pacific Scoop:
By Henzy Yakham and Pacific Media Watch

The suspicious arrival of 14 hired Fijian “mercenaries” at  Simberi gold mine in Papua New Guinea’s northern island province of New Ireland has raised serious security, immigration and work permit issue concerns, reports the Sunday Chronicle. Read more »

Co-editors Shailendra Singh (left) and Professor Biman Prasad at the media book launch. Photo: Sophie Ralulu/Fiji Sun

Pacific.Scoop
By Pacific Media Centre newsdesk

A leading Fiji economist has called on the military backed regime to lift the tough censorship curbs on news media or risk growing corruption and a major financial institution collapse.

Professor Biman Prasad of the University of the South Pacific directed his appeal to the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, saying while many people appreciated and understood his desire to create a “new Fiji”, his efforts would be thwarted without a free media.
Read more »

USP journalism head Shailendra Singh and students check out the latest Wansolwara. Photo: USP

Pacific.Scoop
By a special correspondent in Suva

Wansolwara, an award-winning Pacific regional journalism training newspaper, came off the presses of a Fiji daily newspaper for the first time in its 13-year history last night.

The 16-page paper was being read today as a liftout in the Fiji Sun, Fiji’s fastest growing daily.
Read more »

Voreqe Bainimarama ... counter invitation. Photo: Scoop/Selwyn Manning

Pacific.Scoop
By Tupuola Terry Tavita in Apia

Fiji strongman Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has countered Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s recent invitation to come to Apia for a chat with an invitation of his own.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun from Malaysia, Bainimarama said: “Tell him [Tuilaepa] to come to Fiji instead, it might change the way he sees us.”
Read more »