PINA

The ABC Managing Director David Anderson and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) President and National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Papua New Guinea Managing Director Kora Nou hosted 27 CEOs, managing directors and editors from media houses in 12 countries across the Pacific. Australian attendees included leadership representatives from First Nations media, commercial free-to-air and print media, independent and public broadcasters.​

The committee was birthed at last week's inaugural leader's summit of the Pacific Islands News Association.

It follows last year's launch of the Pacific Environment Journalist Network which aims to improve reporting on environmental issues, particularly around climate change.

John Hyde from the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project is assisting the new committee.

Mr Hyde said environmental reporting is important but said corruption can impact all areas.

Nou says he will do this by addressing resource issues at the University level.

He made the comment while speaking as a panellist during a Media Freedom discussion at the University of Papua New Guinea today.

My Nou said there is no point in establishing Journalism school if current Journalism courses at UPNG and Divine Word University are struggling to maintain the current facilities.

In his statement for World Media Freedom Day, PINA President Moses Steven said it does not make sense when some of the leaders who have been entrusted to lead end up depriving citizens off their right to information and right to free expression.

Steven said some countries in the region have made progresses in having national media policies as well as passing legislations on Right to Information (RTI), yet there are some governments that continue to antagonise their state owned mediums and threaten to shut them down.

The media workshop will be hosted by the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is expected to give a key note address at the opening of the workshop.

The training will cover topics that will be discussed during the Pacific Island Forum meeting.