Ashwin Raj, chair of Fiji's media authority MIDA Photo: RNZI/Republika
Fiji's Media Industry and Development Authority has dismissed a complaint about a television programme, saying the issue won't go to a media tribunal.
In October, several individuals referred the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation's Wasea Basha programme to MIDA and the police for alleged racism against indigenous people.
The MIDA chair Ashwin Raj said the tone of the programme was not provocative and the language was not inflammatory.
He said it was not about denigrating, but may have had the effect of giving credence to racist stereotyping given the power of the media.
The FBC apologised for the broadcast, and its CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum sacked the programme producer Nemani Bainivalu last month after an internal inquiry found he had acted irresponsibly.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde dismissed the police complaint last month, saying a broadcast must do more than simply insult or cause offence to people.
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation apologises for comments after social media complaints Photo: FBC TV Facebook