The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored a three-day investigative reporting training focused on forestry, climate change, and natural resource management in Port Moresby from May 1–3, 2024.
The training provided the media with the tools necessary to report on illegal and unsustainable environmental activities and corruption in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Twenty-seven participants from PNG’s leading news media outlets, universities, government departments, and non-government organizations received training in investigative reporting, information sharing, media accountability, media law, and journalist protection. Participants also shared their own experiences and challenges as reporters and began building communities of practice.
Meredith Waters, Project Director for USAID’s PNG Sustainable Landscapes (PNGSL) Program delivered opening remarks.
“The training aims to equip you with the knowledge and capacity to report on the environmental issues happening in the communities and the country. You are charged with the great task of sharing knowledge with communities and relevant partners to ensure accountability.”
The training was conducted by PNGSL, which is a PGK 70 million program committed to supporting the efforts of the government and communities of Papua New Guinea to protect the country’s natural resources and rich biodiversity. PNGSL program is implemented by Palladium International.
Ted Mamu, PNGSL Acting Chief of Party emphasized the vital role journalists play.
“Your role as journalists and the media is not only to provide factual and in-depth content on the issues of environmental accountability but to further inform the public on best practices and sustainable pathways to hold parties responsible for their actions.”
Participants included representatives from Post Courier, The National, EMTV, National Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC), PNGFM, FM100, TV Wan/Loop News, ABC, Sunday Bulletin, Inside PNG, Divine Word University, the University of PNG, PNG’s University of Technology, the Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR) and the Climate Change Development Authority attended the three-day training.