Pacific Journalists

The Pacific Environment Journalist Network was officially launched in Nukualofa, Tonga Monday on the eve of the opening of the 5th Pacific Media Summit with the aim of getting together journalists interested in reporting on environment issues and giving them the space, training and resources to do so.

Launching the Network, Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) President Moses Steven said it is good that the Pacific tells its own stories instead of oversea media coming to report on issues of the Pacific.

The Pacific Freedom Forum's comments come after seven journalists attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea last week were reportedly detained for failing to pay a US$350 journalists' visa fee.

The journalists say they weren't informed that there was a visa fee during the accreditation process, and PNG's immigration minister, Rimbink Pato, has promised to investigate.

The training provided insights into the Convention and the work of the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) project. In doing so, the training aimed to build the capacity of selected journalists to prevent, detect and investigate cases of corruption through greater awareness of UNCAC and the media’s role as a non-state actor.

In his welcoming address, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Tu'ivakano, noted the essential role media have to play in combatting corruption and helping reduce its adverse impacts on a country’s development.

Acting Director of Tuvalu Meteorological Service, Tauala Katea told the Third Pacific Meteorological Council meeting the new glossary will have the English weather forecasting terms translated into Tuvaluan.

“The glossary will greatly assist the work of journalists who will deliver the weather information to the people in the islands,” said Mr.Katea.

Journalists in Tuvalu have been struggling with the translation of weather and climate terms into the vernacular language.