In-depth Solomons investigative reporter Ronald Toito’ona is among six Pacific journalists that have been selected for the Pacific Islands Financial Investigative Reporting and Mentorship Initiative, or the FIRM.  

This new initiative supports the establishment and expansion of financial investigative reporting units within local newsrooms committed to public service journalism. 
 
The selected journalists are: 

• Meri Radinibaravi – The Fiji Times (Fiji) 

• Aisha Azeemah – Islands Business (Fiji) 

• Julie Badui Owa and Charmaine Poriambep – Inside PNG (Papua New Guinea) 

• Ronald Flier Toito’ona – In-depth Solomons (Solomon Islands) 

• Siosifa Pomana – Talanoa ʻo Tonga (Tonga) 

“Local, independent media are well placed to connect communities through consistent reporting on critical issues, and to hold leaders accountable on public interest issues,” said Preethi Nallu, Executive Director of Report for the World. 

“We are delighted to work with a new cohort of journalists and newsrooms in the Pacific Islands, who will explore key themes in their countries, such as climate, corruption, health, education, and gender through the finance and economy angles,” Nallu added. 

The FIRM will provide salary support for each of these full-time, seasoned financial investigative journalists to staff their respective units for up to three years.  

They will also receive specialized professional development and mentorship services throughout the three years focusing on strategic financial investigative reporting skills, journalism safety, cyber security, visual journalism, and encouraging international collaboration on story design and reporting.  

These services will be provided by the East-West Center, Report for the World, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project—a global investigative journalism network—and other expert resources as required. 
 
“This partnership means that we will be able to have a dedicated reporter investigating some of the region’s most important financial stories,” said Samantha Magick, Managing Editor at Islands Business.  

“Islands Business has long relied on a strong network of some of the Pacific’s best correspondents, and to be able to now support the development of an in-house expert will deepen and improve the sustainability of our coverage,” Magick added. 
 
These journalists will also attend the 2024 East-West Center International Media Conference being held June 23–26 in Manila, Philippines, which will include a session to officially launch the FIRM initiative.  

The conference will also feature panels of the selected journalists and representatives from the East-West Center, Report for the World, and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. 
 
The FIRM initiative is being funded in part by PROJECT Governance, a multi-year partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Pacific Community, and the East-West Center to strengthen democratic institutions and promote sound, just, and responsive government throughout the Pacific Islands. 
 
“By partnering with local newsrooms in the Pacific Islands through the FIRM, PROJECT Governance is boosting their capacity to shed light on financial matters that can have major impacts on a country’s economic and political systems,” said East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum.  

“Strengthening the voices of independent media can lead to impactful and positive change in good governance practices.” 

Ofani Eremae, co-founder and editor of In-depth Solomons, said the assistance would boosts his newsroom’s reporting capacity. 

“Ronald has more than 10 years reporting experience under his belt,” Eremae said. 

“Under the FIRM initiative, he would be able to focus on financial investigative reporting, which is much needed in Solomon Islands,” he added.