Fiji has been ranked as the worst place in the Pacific region for journalists in the latest assessment by global press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In RSF's 2022 World Press Freedom Index released this week, Fiji was placed 102 out of 180 countries - receiving an overall score of 56.91 out of 100.
Newspaper stand in Lautoka, Fiji Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
The country slipped by 47 places compared to its 2021 rankings when it was placed 55 out of 180 nations.
The media watchdog said "journalists critical of the government are regularly intimidated and even imprisoned by the indestructible prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, in power since the military coup of 2006."
Other countries from the region included Aotearoa New Zealand, which was ranked 11th, Australia - 39, Samoa - 45, Tonga - 49, and Papua New Guinea - 62.
RSF said Aotearoa New Zealand, which received an overall score of 83.54, is a "regional model" for press freedom "by having developed safeguards against political and economic influences" for journalists to conduct their work.