The opening of a new office for the Media Association of Tonga marks another step in the organisation’s development, eight years after Tongan journalists and media representatives came together to establish a unified professional body.
Australian High Commissioner Brek Batley opened the office last Friday, describing it as a place where journalists can meet, exchange ideas, plan and strengthen professional cooperation.
Image: MAT
The Media Association of Tonga was formed in 2018 during the fifth Pacific Islands Media Summit held in Tonga, at a time when questions about media freedom and relations between the Government and the media continued to be ‘uneasy’.
Lady Luseane, the association’s first president, said during its launch that local journalists needed a strong network to back them up.
“We really need an association to help us, to pull us together, to be united in our task as journalists. Especially at this time in Tonga, we are facing a lot of challenges in our field of work especially on reporting,” she said.
MAT has since undergone several changes in leadership. Veteran journalist Kalafi Moala, who is currently the President of the Pacific Islands News Association, was elected president in 2023, alongside Viliami Falekaono as vice-president and other executive members representing different parts of Tonga’s media sector.
The association has expanded its activities beyond representation, supporting World Press Freedom Day events, journalist training and regional exchanges.
This year, Katalina Tohi was elected president, taking over from Falekaono. The new executive includes representatives from radio, broadcasting and print and online media.
The association is now also pursuing a stronger institutional role. In May, MAT raised proposals with Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua for a Media Complaints Council, a Code of Ethics and other measures aimed at strengthening professional standards and engagement between the media and public institutions.
It has also moved to recruit an office coordinator to support its operations, member coordination and organisational development.
Speaking at the office opening, Batley said an independent media was essential to transparency and accountability.
“Journalists must be able to report in the public interest, they must be able to ask difficult questions, and they must be able to carry out their work safely, independently, and without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Batley said Australia had committed about $1.08 million in bilateral support for Tonga’s media sector between 2023 and 2026, alongside wider regional support through programmes including PACMAS and the Regional Media Support Fund.
He stressed that the assistance came without editorial expectations.
“MAT and Tonga’s journalists must determine their own priorities, ask their own questions, and reach their own professional conclusions, including about the work that Australia does here in Tonga.”
The new office will support training, journalist fellowships and cadetships, while MAT’s Press Club programme continues to provide a forum for journalists, leaders and communities to discuss issues affecting Tonga.
As audiences increasingly move online and traditional media face growing financial pressure, Batley said innovation, accuracy, verification and public trust would become increasingly important.
The office gives MAT a permanent base as it seeks to strengthen its own organisation while pursuing a broader role in supporting professional, independent and accountable journalism in Tonga.
