Editorial Charter

FIJI POLITICAL REVIEW

Editorial Independence Charter

1.  Purpose of This Charter

This Editorial Independence Charter sets out the principles, rules, and accountability mechanisms that govern all content published by the Fiji Political Review (FPR). It applies to every editor, writer, analyst, and contributor, whether paid or voluntary, full-time or occasional. It is a binding document, not an aspiration.

By publishing this Charter openly, the FPR invites readers, sources, and the broader Fijian public to hold us accountable to every commitment made within it.

2.  Editorial Independence

2.1  The Principle

Editorial independence means that all decisions about what the FPR publishes, including what topics to cover, what conclusions to draw, and what corrections to issue, are made solely by the Editorial Board on the basis of journalistic and analytical merit, evidence, and the public interest.

No owner, funder, advertiser, government, political party, corporate sponsor, or external stakeholder has any right to direct, veto, delay, or alter any editorial decision.

2.2  Who This Applies To

The following parties are expressly prohibited from influencing editorial content:

•       Owners and founding members of the FPR

•       Advertisers and commercial sponsors

•       Donors and grant-making organisations

•       Political parties, candidates, and elected officials

•       Government ministries and public agencies

•       Corporate and business interests

•       Any individual or organisation providing financial or in-kind support

 2.3  Separation of Business and Editorial

The FPR maintains a strict separation between its commercial operations and its editorial operations. Staff responsible for advertising sales, sponsorship, or revenue generation have no role in editorial decisions. Editors have no role in commercial negotiations.

3.  Accuracy and Truth

The FPR is committed to publishing only what is true, verifiable, and transparently sourced. This is our highest editorial obligation.

• Every factual claim must be supported by at least one credible, identified source.

• Statistical data must include its source, methodology, and date of collection.

• Where facts are disputed, we present the dispute clearly and explain the evidence on each side.

• We never publish claims we cannot verify, even if they are newsworthy.

• Unnamed sources may be used only when the information is in the clear public interest and the source faces genuine risk of harm if identified. The reason for anonymity will always be stated.

• We clearly distinguish between factual reporting, analysis, and opinion. These categories are never mixed without explicit labelling.

4.  Corrections Policy

Publishing a correction is not a failure, it is evidence of integrity. The FPR is committed to correcting errors promptly, transparently, and without minimisation.

• Errors of fact will be corrected within 48 hours of being identified or brought to our attention.

• All corrections are published in a permanent, clearly labelled Corrections section of the website.

• The original article will carry a note at the top stating what was corrected and when.

• We will never silently edit published content. All material changes are documented.

• Significant errors that affect the meaning of an article will be accompanied by a formal correction statement from the Editor.

5.  Impartiality and Fairness

The FPR does not endorse political parties, candidates, or governments. We apply the same standards of scrutiny to all political actors, regardless of their ideology, ethnicity, or affiliation.

Impartiality does not mean false balance. Where the weight of evidence clearly supports one position, we will say so. We will not give equal weight to claims that lack credible evidential support simply to appear neutral.

• Individuals and organisations criticised in our reporting will be given a genuine right of response before publication, with a reasonable deadline.

• We will represent all significant communities in Fiji; iTaukei, Indo-Fijian, and others, with equal respect and rigour.

• We do not allow our analysis to be shaped by racial, ethnic, religious, or political bias.

6.  Conflicts of Interest

6.1  Disclosure

All FPR editors and contributors must disclose any personal, financial, or political relationship that could create — or be perceived to create — a conflict of interest with the subject of their work. Disclosures are made to the Editor-in-Chief before assignment.

6.2  Recusal

Any contributor with a material conflict of interest will be recused from the relevant assignment. Where a conflict is identified after publication, it will be disclosed publicly.

6.3  Political Activity

FPR editors and senior writers may not be members of, or publicly active advocates for, any Fijian political party for the duration of their engagement with the FPR.

7.  Funding and Financial Transparency

Readers have a right to know who funds the FPR. We publish an annual disclosure of all significant revenue sources including advertising, sponsorship, grants, subscriptions, and donations. The following rules govern our funding:

• We will not accept funding from any political party, government ministry, or government-linked entity.

• Advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial content. This is non-negotiable and stated in all commercial agreements.

• We will disclose any grant or donation above FJD 500 in our annual funding report.

• If a funder or advertiser pressures us to alter editorial content, we will terminate the commercial relationship and, where appropriate, report the attempt publicly.

8.  Commitment to Fijian and Pacific Values

The FPR recognises that Fiji’s political life is shaped by its multicultural society, its Indigenous iTaukei traditions, its post-colonial history, and its place in the Pacific region. Our editorial commitments in this context are:

• We will apply culturally informed reporting that understands and respects the significance of Fijian customary institutions, including the Great Council of Chiefs and provincial councils, without placing them beyond critical analysis.

• We will report on Pacific regional dynamics, including geopolitical competition, climate policy, and regional governance, as integral to understanding Fijian politics.

• We will not allow the complexity of Fiji’s ethnic and communal politics to become a reason for incomplete or biased coverage. All communities will be covered with equal rigour.

9.  Accountability Mechanisms

9.1  Editorial Board

The FPR is governed by an Editorial Board responsible for upholding this Charter, adjudicating complaints, and reviewing editorial standards. The composition of the Board and the name of the Editor-in-Chief will be published on the FPR website.

9.2  Reader Complaints

Any reader who believes the FPR has breached this Charter may submit a formal complaint. All complaints will receive a written response within 10 business days. If a complaint is upheld, the appropriate correction or clarification will be published.

9.3  Annual Editorial Review

Once per year, the Editorial Board will publish an editorial transparency report covering: funding sources, corrections issued, complaints received and resolved, and any threats to editorial independence that were identified and resisted. 

10.  Amendments to This Charter

This Charter may be amended by a decision of the full Editorial Board. Any amendments will be published on the FPR website with a clear record of what changed, why, and when. No amendment may reduce the protections afforded by this Charter without a full public explanation.

Adopted by the Fiji Political Review Editorial Board

This Charter was adopted by the Fiji Political Review upon its founding in April 2026. It is a public document and may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with attribution to the Fiji Political Review.

For questions about this Charter contact: editor@fijipoliticalreview.com