A Pacific media commentator says the good mood prevailing at last week's Pacific Islands News Association was astonishing given the threats of a boycott and predicted tension.
David Robie, who was invited to speak at the gathering of media and journalism professionals in Suva, has been among critics of the Fiji-based grouping for its failure to address media freedom issues.
Professor Robie says there were no special sessions on media freedom, but there was frank debate at the summit on many issues despite the chill of censorship still hanging over Fiji journalists.
"A lot of journalists have a problem with trust, who do they trust among their colleagues and it was quite noticeable, particularly among a lot of the younger journalists from Fiji that were at the summit, (they were) very reluctant to give their points of view."
David Robie says there was goodwill for rival regional groups to work together and PINA also resolved to tackle journalism training, research journalists' working conditions and boost PINA's news service.