PETER LOMAS’ LEGACY LIVES ON AFTER HIS PASSING
TODAY MARKS ONE YEAR OF THE FORMER FIJI SUN PUBLISHER/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S PASSING
Today we at the Fiji Sun commemorate the one year anniversary of the death of Peter
Lomas.
He had led the charge to revamp the Fiji Sun when he was appointed to head it in 2009.
He laid the building blocks that led to the growth of the newspaper to what it is today.
He was a doyen of journalism and worked as sports and news reporter before he took on the business side of the media industry
Mr Lomas was big on training. After the coups of 1987 and 2000, many senior and experienced journalists left Fiji for overseas jobs.
Some of them worked under him when he was editor of the old Fiji Sun
and Islands Business.
Because of the shortage of experienced journalists, he launched what was believed to be the first dedicated in-house editorial training programme in a local media organisation.
I was recruited to run the programme. Mr Lomas encouraged young journalists to obtain a university qualification. Some of our journalists were sent overseas for more training and qualifications. He believed that education qualifications enhanced the quality and depth of journalists’ work.
He was instrumental in developing the digital section of the newspaper to take advantage of the technological revolution that was happening worldwide.
Rosi Doviverata, now acting in his position, was appointed to lead the section and develop its business potential.
Mr Lomas rightly believed that content was top priority and persevered to improve it with innovations. He encouraged more analysis of issues and explanatory journalism for the benefit of readers.
Mr Lomas advocated the journalism of hope and development.
At the same time he pushed for investigative journalism.
As a result two new permanent features of the newspaper were added on- Shine A Light and Climate Watch. Mr Lomas not only spoke about it, but implemented gender balance policies on merit basis.
On the celebration of International Women’s Day yesterday Fiji Sun can proudly say that most senior management positions are held by women They were not selected because they were women, but on the basis of their qualifications and experience. Mr Lomas may no longer be with the staff, but he is not forgotten.
He will be remembered for defending media freedom, championing the push to train journalists and media workers and fighting for better pay and conditions for them.