The deputy chairperson of Fiji's Media Industry Development Authority is calling on journalists to be responsible after the Public Emergency Regulations are lifted tomorrow.
The regulations, which give the military and police extensive powers, were imposed in 2009 after the appeal court ruled Commodore Frank Bainimarama's post-2006 coup interim administration illegal.
Matai Akauola warns reporters must practice good journalism and shed any pre-conceived ideas or motives if they want to avoid problems.
"From the media authority's perspective the ball is in the media's court so to speak. I've been telling colleagues that in the media decree the code of ethics is there so if they adhere to the code of ethics then the media authority's just a shadow, it doesn't really have to be in their face, kind of thing."
Matai Akauola says the announcement that the regulations were to be lifted was a welcome surprise.
