Local journos complete UN training

Twenty local journalists completed a journalist training supported by the United Nations in Papua New Guinea on Friday.

These journalists, selected from NBC TV/Radio, EMTV, PNGTV, PNGFM, FM100, National, Post-Courier and Wantok Niuspepa, have gone through the week-long training which consisted of a series of practical sessions on research, interviewing, data mining, writing, and the application of ethics and values of journalism.

“The United Nations in Papua New Guinea values the media and journalists as key influencers and as vital catalysts to inform people,” said Roy Trivedy, the UN resident coordinator in Papua New Guinea.

“To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals which aim at leaving no one behind, more efforts are required to identify people’s needs, enable them to use their voices and give people an equal opportunity to access information and services.

“The media’s role becomes more important than ever in reporting on the issues that people face. The United Nations will continue to support the media to develop their skills.”

The tailored training was grounded in the country’s context and delivered by two facilitators, Ian Mannix and Catherine Graue under the Media Development Initiative funded by the Australian Broadcasting Cooperation.

Localised contents of the training provided the journalists not only the general skills of reporting but also the substantive knowledge about pressing issues in the country like human rights, gender, health, agriculture, environment conservation, data and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The holistic training was realised through joint funding from the UN System in Papua New Guinea, including from FAO, OHCHR, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, and WHO. Further support was provided by the US State Department for three reporters from NBC/s provincial stations in Alotau, Lae and Madang to participate in the training.

(Journalists with Roy Trivedy, the UN Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, third from left)

Author: 
Press release