The Media Council of PNG in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Corporation will be hosting an inaugural National Press Club Speaker Series in Port Moresby.
The first in a series of others planned, the initiative aims to develop the journalism industry through specialised training and opportunities to use the training in the inaugural National Press Club speaker series.
MCPNG President Alex Rheeney says the concept had been talked about for years however, had not been established.
He said reviving the idea took around 12 months of planning and assistance from partners and wants the full support of the industry to maintain it.
On Friday January 20, the first training session for journalists will be conducted with the inaugural speaker series on Monday January 23.
“The training basically focuses on giving confidence and skills to upcoming journalists to ask the right questions and to have the confidence to ask questions.
“We are hoping that after the training the reporters go through on Friday we will get to see some of them in action at the inaugural Press Club speaker series on Monday,” he said.
The inaugural event is being supported by Media for Development Initiative (MDI), which is attached with the NBC. They are assisting in the creation of National Press Club based on the Australian model.
NBC Managing Director, Kora Nou, says it was during discussions with the MDI that an effective way to engage with audiences was through the introduction of the National Press Club.
“We see this as an opportunity to engage with our current journalist and senior journalists that have taken on senior positions in the newsroom that this would be a good training for you as well.”
He added “the NBC is happy to partner with the Media Council to kick-start this initiative.
MC President Alex Rheeney is appealing to all media houses to support this event.