Pacific faces ‘critical moment’ in fight for press freedom, media watchdog warns

Some reporters in the region face jail for alleged defamation in countries where news outlets often lack resources to defend lawsuits

The Pacific is facing a “critical moment” for press freedom, the region’s media watchdog has warned, as a number of senior journalists in a range of Pacific countries are facing costly lawsuits and criminal prosecution for alleged defamation.

“We have seen a few cases coming up … challenging the fundamentals of press freedom in the region,” said Robert Iroga, the chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum.