Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited Chief Executive Officer Natasha Meleisea shares her insights at the 2025 Pacific Media Partnership Conference, in Suva.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
Seeds about just how Pacific nations plan to tackle the changing media landscape have been planted at the 2025 Pacific Media Partnership Conference (PMPC): Pacific cultures in a global world, in Suva, Fiji.
Hosted by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), the conference gathered experienced broadcasters together to discuss solutions to the challenges facing the media industry in the current unpredictable climate.
Setting the scene for a constructive three days of talanoa, Acting Fiji Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad gave the opening address at the conference, and spoke of the Government keeping its promise to ensure there is media freedom, with the first step being to repeal the oppressive Media Industry Development Act.
The provision of exclusive government contracts to selected media companies has now been stopped, he adds.
In a continuation from last year, the PMPC has looked at supporting journalists more, media freedom in supporting communities and addressing environmental crises, and emphasising the need for sustainable financial models, digitisation of media archives, training and development, and coordination of emergency broadcasting in the region.
Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) Chief Executive Officer Natasha Meleisea attended the conference, sharing her insights in a forum panel, focusing on international partners and donors, and changes in the media landscape.
Moderated by ABU Director of News Deborah Steele, Natasha joined President of Radio Free Asia Bay Fang, Head of ABC International Claire Gorman, United Nations Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener, Public Media Alliance CEO Kristian Porter, Public Affairs Digital Lead at the Pacific Islands Forum Leanne Jorari, and Business Development Manager at Australasia BBC Media Action Midi Stormont on the panel.
Natasha says the heavyweights of Asia Pacific media outlets discussed challenges facing broadcasters currently, including digital transformation, AI, and OTT platforms, all of which has significantly impacted traditional media revenue models and how people consume content.
“No matter what the digital landscape looks like, PCBL is committed to navigating the challenges ahead for the region fueled by emerging technology and media consumption habits,” Natasha says.
“A heartfelt take-away from our discussion and the conference in general, was how we can coordinate ourselves better as international partners to support local broadcasters during natural disasters.
“There are lessons to be learnt from the recent Vanuatu earthquake and Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption and tsunami in 2022 – we will also focus our attention on this.
“The conference has been another opportunity for the media industry to share ideas on how to navigate changes in this space, which can be quite unique to the Pacific region.”
The conference has coincided with several significant milestones, including the 70th anniversary of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), the formal launch of FBC’s Media Academy, and World Radio Day 2025.
