The most important thing from my perspective is a strategic partnership - a partnership where the media should not be seen as the enemy or a nuisance.
This was stated by the News Director of Communications Fiji Limited and Fijian Media Association executive, Vijay Narayan while speaking at the Media Session of the Police Consultative Session at the Grand Pacific Hotel this afternoon.
Narayan says the media and the police have the same goals and objectives focusing on truth, integrity, accountability and transparency.
He says the media is ready to have regular meetings with the senior command of the Police Force, and also extended an invitation to the Acting Police Commissioner and his senior officers to visit individual media outlets to understand the work of the media.
Narayan says at times there is a disconnect where the only time the media is called in when the police want to say something or maybe when there is a major issue at hand.
Narayan says he remembers the Crime Stoppers Board also included the members of the media and the media organisations.
He adds they fought the fight together.
Narayan encouraged Police to engage more with the public through press conferences as the Police Force also needs to be humanised, and not just focus on posting on their social media page.
The CFL News Director says at times they may not be on the same page but the tough questions need to be asked.
Fiji Sun’s investigative journalist Ivamere Nataro says some people she speak to her do not understand the work of the police and keep requesting for frequent updates.
Nataro says in this digital age, news spreads faster on social media and if the police do not open up to the mainstream media, it is another thing people look at.
She further says Police need to engage more with the community amd show that they care.
While responding to the media, Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew says he agrees with whatever was stated, and moving forward they will try and improve, and there is nothing to hide in this world.
But Chew gave an example where a story was published that someone was tortured.
He says it just went out and they don’t know whether it was true or false but when the matter was investigated, the matter just died out.
He says if they manage to find this person, he or she will be taken to task for giving false information.
