Pacific Region Report to the Board of Directors

The report describes a complex media environment in the Pacific Small Island Developing States, where traditional radio remains vital for reaching remote areas, but mobile phone and ICT penetration is rapidly increasing. It identifies significant barriers to communication, including geographic isolation, infrastructure instability, and gender disparities. To address these, the report proposes that WACC focus on network development through the Pacific Conference of Churches, support youth-led 'artivism', and follow up on Global Media Monitoring Project findings, specifically linking communications to regional priorities like climate change.

• The media landscape in Pacific Small Island Developing States is highly diverse and influenced by geography, with larger media industries in Fiji and Papua New Guinea, while smaller nations like Tonga and Samoa have less diverse landscapes. Radio remains a critical platform for reaching audiences across vast distances, though there is a growing trend toward satellite and cable television in urban areas, which often increases access to foreign content at the expense of local content.
• Access to information is heavily dictated by geography, creating 'media-rich' and 'media dark' areas; in Papua New Guinea, 'media dark' areas are primarily located in the islands. In countries such as Kiribati, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu, isolation often limits outer islands to government radio or no mass media access at all.
• Mobile phone usage has grown significantly, with ITU statistics showing access increased from 10 per cent in 2006 to around 60 per cent of Pacific Islanders in 2012. In Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga, mobile devices are used for banking and transnational remittances, and in some areas, mobile phone access has surpassed radio access.
• Significant infrastructure and social barriers persist, including unstable internet connections in Tuvalu, varying signal strength across the region, and limited access for women and youth. The report notes that the region's climate and lack of maintenance capacity have historically hindered the adoption of new digital infrastructure.
• WACC identifies a strategic opportunity to support gender and youth-inclusive media initiatives focused on the regional priority of 'Climate Change, Peace and Security'. Proposed future directions include developing a communications network within the Pacific Conference of Churches and supporting 'artivism' campaigns for youth aged 18-30.

APA

World Association for Christian Communication (2019). Pacific Region Report to the Board of Directors. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Doc-4F-Pacific-Region-Report.pdf

Chicago

World Association for Christian Communication. Pacific Region Report to the Board of Directors. 2019. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Doc-4F-Pacific-Region-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Association for Christian Communication |title=Pacific Region Report to the Board of Directors |date=September 2019 |url=https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Doc-4F-Pacific-Region-Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldassociationforchristiancommunication2019pacific, author = {{World Association for Christian Communication}}, title = {{Pacific Region Report to the Board of Directors}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Doc-4F-Pacific-Region-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }