This will likely be my last blog post for the foreseeable future...it has to be.
On Tuesday this week (2 days ago), the deadline for the registration of media outlets passed. I'm sure that organisations such as Fiji TV, FijiTimes, FijiSun, MaiTV and various other publishers got their paperwork in on time.
On last night's news report, however, the Acting Permanent Secretary of Information seemed to allude to anyone operating a website needing to register as well. See the video clip below:
Oceanic develops websites for some of the largest corporations and organisations in the region. I've tried to understand this decree myself and have also tried to get answers through official channels but I haven't had much luck. Should I be advising EVERY single one of my clients to register their companies as media organisations?
Smith Johns said in this interview that "it's important that everyone read and understand this decree" but I'll be among the first to admit that I don't understand it at all. She also said that "it CAN be small publishers as well [who need to register]"...this, however, is quite different from saying "it IS small publishers".
I'm not intending to argue any points about the actual decree here. Much of it I don't really care about and as a non-citizen and a guest in Fiji, I am not really afforded the right to complain anyway, even if I did disagree. I can live with that as it's a fact of life when residing in a country you are not native to. However, I have to be able to understand how this decree may or may not impact both myself and my business. As an investor, how could I not expect that?
For the time being and until I'm able to get clarification, it's just going to be easier to not publish new content on this blog or anywhere on Oceanic's site. This may also mean that new work we've completed cannot be marketed either and that has an unfortunate impact on our business. I'll be doing whatever I can to try to find answers on this and will try to post updates here.
In the meantime, it seems advisable that if you do run a website, regardless of your business type, and you are a resident in Fiji, it may be in your best interests to register as a media organisation.
Interestingly, in a follow up story on the news (also included below), Smith Johns referenced applications for exemption to the decree. She said "You need to apply to be registered or you need to apply for an exemption. That closed yesterday afternoon so all media organisations would have had to have that submitted yesterday." The reporter then goes on to say "Those that fail to register will incur a stiff fine."
This actually left me even more confused over what I'm supposed to be doing. I need to register but the deadline has passed and I will incur a stiff fine? This is pretty essential information which I hope I can get clarified further.
The answers are out there...
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UPDATE 10.30 a.m.: Have been able to determine now that if organisations have a website, they absolutely do need to either register as a media organisation or apply for exemption. Any organisation disseminating information to the public (i.e.; via a website) falls in this category. Will provide more specific information soon as it comes in. Oceanic will apply for an exemption. (Btw, our main website is down now. How's that for a responsible media organisation?)
