Longtime journalist and Pacific islands media trainer and a former Samoa Observer editor, Peter Lomas, has passed on in Fiji according to local media reports.

Until his passing on Wednesday morning, the late Mr Lomas was the Publisher and C.E.O. of the Fiji Sun and worked for the Suva-based newspaper for 15 years.

He also had stints at the Fiji Times newspaper and the Islands Business monthly magazine and clocked 4 years as editor with the Samoa Observer from 2002–2005.

Fiji’s national broadcaster, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (F.B.C.) reported that the veteran journalist, editor and publisher died on Wednesday morning.

Samoa Observer Publisher Muliaga Jean Malifa and Editor-in-Chief Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa expressed sadness at his passing.

“Peter played a key role in training our reporters when he was with us, he was passionate about journalism as a profession and worked with our staff teaching them about the trade during his time here,” said Muliaga.

“Sincere condolences to his family on his passing this morning [Wednesday], his influence in terms of journalism training extended beyond our shores to other island nations as well.”

Fijian Media Association General Secretary, Stanley Simpson, in a statement published through the Fiji Times described the late Mr Lomas as a giant of journalism and media development in Fiji and region.

“In 2001 Lomas shifted from mainstream media to take up full-time role as media development training coordinator for the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA),” he said.

“He used his connections and international networks including at UNESCO to help channel funding and training opportunities for the media in the Pacific.

“He leaves behind a legacy of modernising and improving content at a number of major newspapers in the Pacific – including the Samoa Observer, Solomon Star, Elijah Communications in the Cook Islands and his final home at the Fiji Sun.”

Mr Lomas also assisted the Honiara-based Solomon Star newspaper expand its newspaper and broadcasting operations and had a hand in the integration of Cook Islands Television, Radio Cook Islands and the Cook Islands Times and Herald into a multimedia group, reports the F.B.C.

He was also Vice-President of UNESCO’s global journalism training network JourNet and Secretary-General of the Council of Asia Pacific Press Institute, reports the F.B.C. and was awarded the Pacific Islands News Association’s Pacific Media Freedom Award for his commitment to training and development.

His late wife Nina Ratulele Lomas, a Fijian and Pacific islands media luminary, passed on in late 2019 after losing her battle to cancer. The late Mr Lomas is survived by his daughter Adi Losalini Lomas.