The Media Council of Papua New Guinea and its partners hosted its first PNG National Press Club meet for the year 2025 at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby. The PNG National Press Club is set to take place at the end of every quarter and the PNG Media Council planned to have three more meetings during the year. The first PNG National Press Club for 2025 was focused on Strategic lawsuits against public participation (also known as SLAPP suits or intimidation lawsuits). Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) or strategic litigation against public participation, are lawsuits intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition. However, in recent times SLAPP lawsuits have prevented media organizations and public advocacy groups from highlighting matters requiring public knowledge, scrutiny and debate. During the presentation and discussion SLAPP was described as a lawsuit designed to restrict and silence critics and burden them with legal costs so eventually, they abandon the criticism or opposition. This lawsuit is commonly used by large corporations and individuals who have financial resources. The aim of the plaintiff is not to win the case because in most circumstances they are guilty as ever and really have not the evidence in their defence. Guest Speak Eddie Tanago, the Champaign Coordinator for ACT NOW, said SLAPP is simply the suppression of freedom of speech and democracy. “There has been a rise in the use of these techniques by big corporations, companies and governments to suppress the freedom of speech. Journalists, human rights defenders, whistleblowers, critics are the main targets of SLAPP suits. Some countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Australia and the European Union have moved to outlaw SLAPPS as it is an abuse of the legal system and lawyers who help clients use SLAPPs get faced with misconduct charges,” Mr. Tanago said. He added that the media plays a critical role in informing citizens and reporting facts should be paramount, and everyone should be responsible when it comes to informing citizens. The discussion after the presentation was that there is a need to educate the general public and everyone on how to identify SLAPP suits or what techniques are used in a SLAPP suit.