THE FIJI SUN, the newest daily newspaper in the Fiji Islands, has taken a lambasting over its credibility in recent weeks - with frequent mistakes over front page and other stories, a fine of $3000 for contempt of court over a "dummy" story, and finally the resignation of its chief editor.

But faced with a harsh attack by Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry against most news media, the Sun's Jese Temo summed up the issue best: "The media got a taste of its own medicine as the Prime Minister slammed the lack of professionalism among some local journalists and then warned them of new regulatory measures.

"There was nervous laughter from the floor and tension mounted as those used to criticising were themselves criticised."

Still the Sun managed to blot its copybook again by failing to mention the Prime Minister's criticisms of itself over the contempt saga - and the failure to report the fine for "publishing false information".

In an extraordinary evening as guest speaker at the launching of the Fiji Media Council's new code of ethics on October 26, Chaudhry seemed to forget that he was Prime Minister and fired unionist-at-the-barricades style shots against several news media organisations and individual journalists.

His concerns over lack of professional standards and ethics are shared by many people in Fiji - even some of those in the media industry, but his style of bitter attack ended in news executives, publishers and journalists responding defensively over the next few days.

"It was payback time," noted one commentator. "He had a captive audience and he was going to punish his critics."

Chaudhry indicated that his Government is considering establishing a "swift justice" media tribunal to provide remedies in defamation cases. [Separate news reports have also suggested that a motion will be tabled in the November session of Parliament calling for the licensing of foreign-owned media. The licenses are reportedly to be reviewed annually with an annual licence fee of $20,000. Currently the only foreign-owned news organisation is the Fiji Times group, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation Ltd.]

The tribunal proposal, in particular, stung Pacific Islands News Association president William Parkinson into saying: "His attacks against the media were draconian to say the least. We have not had those threats made since the military government in 1987."

Parkinson, who is managing director of Communications (Fiji) Ltd, owners of FM96 in Fiji and stakeholders in radio stations in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, said that as a member of the Fiji media, he was seriously concerned.

Chaudhry introduced his speech with an overview of international media which he said was suffering a "crisis of ethics" and falling credibility.

"Fiji is not isolated from these developments. The media in Fiji needs to take stock of how it is behaving and whether it is facing a crisis of ethics. Since taking office, my government has had occasion to be extremely disgusted by the antics of some elements in the media who have used the medium of the newspaper and television to further their own personal agendas to discredit the Government," he said.

"When day after day a particular reporter writes nothing but anti-government stories with facts manipulated and distorted to discredit and embarrass the government, one is left in little doubt as to what the agenda of the particular reporter is."

Chaudhry singled out four media organisations for a particularly savage attack - the Fiji Times, Fiji Sun, Fiji Television Ltd and Islands Business news magazine. And he also directed his fire against individual journalists.

Highlights of his attacks included:

Fiji Times: "Take the series of front page articles and editorials that appeared in The Fiji Times on the upgrading of security facilities at my residence. They cost a mere $15,000 - The Fiji Times twisted and distorted facts to make them appear to be $200,000. The cost of renovations to the Vice-President's house in Sukuna Road was very cleaverly grafted into the story to create the perception that the work at my house was costing the taxpayer an astronomical sum.

"Then there is the front page story that quoted Nailaga high chief Adi Seinimili of threatening bloodshed on the land issue. The story was alarmist, designed to create fear and racial tension. Adi Seinimili has since denied having used the word bloodshed. The Fiji Times chose to run her denial. Fortunately, TV and The Daily Post did - I am not sure about the radio stations."

Fiji Times reporter Margaret Wise: [About a series of articles on hardline trade unionist Taniela Tabu "breathing fire and brimstone along racial lines"]. How come the only reporter present was Margaret Wise of The Fiji Times since none of the other media reported anything on this meeting? It makes one wonder whether there is not a conspiracy at work here between that particular reporter and these anti-government elements.

"... Is the Fiji Times carrying the torch for people engaged in seditious activities?"

Netani Rika, deputy editor of the Fiji Times: "How many times has the Netani Rika column in the Fiji Times been guilty of this breach of media ethics? Press and broadcasting media should avoid discriminatory or denigratory references to people's race, colour, religion, secual orientation or preference, physical or mental disability or illness or age."

Fiji Television: "At least one TV reporter has been guilty of manipulation of news and distortion of facts although not as blatantly as the Fiji Times. I am also reliably informed that there was instruction from head office to staff in the West not to bother too much about covering government activities in the West. Is this the attitude of a neutral media?"

Islands Business: "I ... refer to concoctions that have been published in the Islands Business magazine about government activities. In its latest [October] issue, the magazine claims it was told by a Fijian Association Party source that His Excellency the President had asked me to step down for two years and I had refused. There is absolutely no truth in this report. It is a load of rubbish."

Keith-Reid yelled out from the bar that the report had come from reliable sources. Chaudhry retorted that perhaps Keith-Reid had had too much to drink or was suffering from a memory lapse.

Claimed Chaudhry: "This is the kind of disinformation that is constantly being fed to the public by journalists who are too lazy to do their research or are simply working to an agenda which does not involve telling the truth.

"How can the media lay claim to integrity and credibility if it is going to fabricate stories like this? How can you in your professed role as the public watchdog be taken seriously when you yourselves are guilty of lying to your readers?"

Chaudhry's accusations sparked off a series of denials by senior media personalities and opposition leaders.

The Fiji Times carried a fullpage and front page story in response, giving its detailed answer to the accusations, billed as "Chaudhry and The Times: The truth behind the talk". The Opposition said media gagging was one of the first signs of decay in democracy, describing Chaudhry's continued attacks on the media as "characteristic of a ruthless and power-hungry dictator".

Opposition leader Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said Chaudhry was on record in The Fiji Times on May 22 vowing not to legislate or license the local news media. Fiji Television also carried many responses over the next two nights.

Fiji Times publisher Alan Robinson said he stood by his newspaper's coverage and the paper did not make up stories: "The prime minister is apparently unable to distinguish between the messenger and the message."

Islands Business wrote in its November edition editorial: "Why Islands Business or its publisher should be accused of being part of a so-called media conspiracy to discredit Chaudhry is mystifying. In making that accusation Chaudhry conveniently overlooks the fact that this magazine has written about the prime minister in rather positive terms (see the October edition of Islands Business)...

"In view of his dictatorial assertions and virulently anti-freedom of information and expression attitudes so nakedly displayed at such an early stage of his prime ministership, a question to ask now is: Has he already blown it?"

But it was extraordinary that none of the Fiji newspapers immediately published the full text of the Prime Minister's speech so that the public could make up their own minds. Nor were the views of academics or independent commentators being sought to expand the public debate.

[The Fiji Times eventually published the speech four days later on October 30 and the Fiji Sun and Daily Post published the address as part of a Government advertisement costing almost $12,000 of taxpayers' money.]

In Bula Networks talkback radio on October 29, some public comment claimed the Fiji news media was "over-reacting" and endorsed Chaudhry's concern for "accurate" reporting.

The Fiji Media Council chairman, Daryl Tarte, was reluctant to be drawn into the fray, preferring to seek neutral ground. He said it was best if media organisations themselves responded to Chaudhry.

"It was an attack on them - not on the Media Council," Tarte was quoted as saying in a fullpage interview in the Fiji Sun.

"As far I am concerned, there has been no attack on media freedom. That has been endorsed so I have no real justification as chairman of the Media Council to respond to Mr Chaudhry.

[Chaudhry had said in his speech: "I reiterate my commitment to a free and unfettered media. At the same time, the media must act responsibly and honestly. It does not exist above the law.]

A letter writer in the Fiji Times noted that the sword of Damocles seemed to be hanging above the heads of those who supported a free media.

"This behaviour of the prime minister," he said, "is nothing short of a medieval dictator. The only thing left for Mr Chaudhry to introduce is the guillotine to chop off the heads of journalists and other right-thinking citizens who do not play to the tune of his broken record."