Journalists from Samoa have joined the Pacific media to pay tribute to a pioneer in the development of media, Peter Lomas who passed away yesterday morning.
He died while doing the work he loved as the Fiji Sun Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, the FBC news out of Fiji report.
Lomas worked for The Fiji Sun for the last 15 years and was married to late former journalist Venina Lomas.
A life-long journalist and publisher, Lomas spent much of his life in Fiji having grown up in Nadi.
Former Editor of the Samoa Observer, Mata’afa Keni Lesa, who worked with Lomas said we lost a pioneer in the development of the media.
“Peter and his late wife Nina Ratulele dedicated their working lives to help develop so many journalists and the Pacific media fraternity as a whole.
According to Mata’afa, Lomas was a remarkable man, and hard worker and he had an impact on many lives including including him at the time Lomas was the Editor Development for the Samoa Observer.”
President of JAWS, Lagi Keresoma said she knew Lomas from his days with PINA and when he and family moved to Samoa, making it their second home.
He was 100 percent palagi but with a heart of an islander.
"Lomas and his wife Nina had initiated and spearheaded journalism development in the Pacific, a well-spoken man with a wicked sense of humor and it has been a privilege to be trained and taught by him," said the JAWS President.
He has left a mark in all of us that have crossed paths with him, and that’s the legacy she will always cherish.
Veteran journalist Monica Miller, former President of PINA worked with Lomas at the time he was Training Coordinator.
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Aside from Fiji and Samoa, Lomas also worked in the Solomon Islands, he helped the Solomon Star expand its newspaper and broadcasting operations.
This included introducing the first web press into the Solomon's to enable the Star to increase publication days and reach.
