Johnson Honimae of SIBC says the public broadcaster is the cornerstone of the Solomon Islands community.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
Established in 1976, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) has evolved over nearly five decades to become a cornerstone of the Solomon Islands community.
Johnson Honimae, Chief Executive Officer of SIBC, says the organisation is more than a trusted public broadcaster – it binds the community and allows it to function and thrive by providing free access to timely and accurate information to a population now exceeding 728,000 people.
Hailing from Malaita Province, and a journalist by profession, Johnson is now in his fourth year at the helm of SIBC, which delivers its services via radio, television, and online platforms.
Driving Johnson in his role is his passion for broadcasting, and ensuring Solomon Islanders are informed and educated.
“At SIBC, our mission is clear – to be the primary channel by which the Government of the Solomon Islands provides essential information and education services about issues that impact quality of life, cultural wellbeing, health and safety,” he says.
“In times of emergencies such as natural disasters and outbreaks of disease, SIBC stands tall as a dependable source of crucial updates and guidance.
“For most Solomon Islanders, SIBC remains the trusted provider of meaningful and relevant content, tailored to support their educational, personal and community objectives.”
He says SIBC radio is the main medium of communication reaching the most remote parts of Solomon Islands.
“According to several audience surveys done by BBC Media Action, radio is still the main platform of communication for a lot of rural population despite the presence of social media in the country.”
While SIBC is an integral part of society, it faces challenges due to the rapidly changing media landscape in the Pacific.
“As a public service broadcaster operating in a small economy like Solomon Islands, SIBC is always struggling to meet its revenue targets,” Johnson explains.
“Revenue cannot meet the cost of a lot of our equipment, so SIBC always depends on the annual subsidy from the Government and grants from donors, including Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan and the United Kingdom.
“The other challenge is getting the right and experienced manpower to run SIBC and keeping them.
“We lose staff to other organisations including the Government and others who are always looking for better conditions of service.”
Adapting to survive in the current challenging conditions is vital for SIBC and other Pacific broadcasters, and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) is supporting it and 29 other broadcasters in the region to become more sustainable, while amplifying local voice in the region.
Johnson says PCBL has been a great supporter of SIBC and has been particularly helpful with capacity building, training of journalists, producers and technical officers, and the provision of equipment.
“Currently, PCBL is assisting SIBC with the review of its Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and looking at the new Strategic Plan 2026-2030 with a Digitization Transformation Plan,” he adds.
Planning is also taking place to provide Free-To-Air Television programmes by 2028 when SIBC celebrates 50 years of Independence.
Despite the challenges, Johnson remains optimistic about the future of SIBC, which with the right support and systems in place, will continue to be a foundation of the Solomon Islands.
Earlier this year, the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) was hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands, bringing Pacific leaders together at a critical moment for the region.
Watch SIBC’s Voice blo Pacific filmed ahead of the Leaders Meeting, to see what Solomon Islanders expected from the forum.
The 54th PILM was hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands earlier this year.
The episode also explores how Pacific journalists from across the region can strengthen their reporting and storytelling at events such as PIFLM.
SIBC is one of PCBL’s 30 valued partners, who PCBL is proudly supporting to create sustainable business models and take ownership of its stories, while delivering its content to Pasifika TV, screened region wide
