The National Federation Party believes that no law should restrict the media from doing their job.
However, Professor Prasad said that he has suffered in the hands of the two media organisations. While one has publicly apologised to Prof Prasad, the other has a civil matter pending in court.
He said that no law should restrict journalists, editors or publishers with the kind of law we have in terms of its punitive measures (referring jail terms and fines).
FijiLive has put to Prof Prasad that while on one hand he speaks about media freedom, it has been noticed that he has been restricting two media organisations from conducting interviews with NFP.
“The reason why I boycott them is because in my view they are biased media organisations, in my view they are Government propaganda and I’ve said it to them, if both these organisations come out and say they are independent organisations, we don’t cook up stories and we don’t practise gutter and corrupt journalism, I would be happy to sit with them and conduct an interview.”
“However, they are not even saying that, they are not even pretending that they are not biased and I have suffered many times.”
Prof Prasad said the Party has nothing against journalists as they are working under tough conditions.
He said he has published a book on media and development.
“We want journalists, editors and publishers to be free to report on the truth, on issues that matter and to keep the Government in check,” he added.
