BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji
REGIONAL journalists have undergone an intense training yesterday ahead of the 51st Pacific Island Leaders Forum Meeting that will kick off in Suva, Fiji today.
The training was held at Holiday Inn, Suva and it was blessed with the presence of Secretary General of Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Henry Puna and Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency John Feakes who welcomed the participants and also opened the Master Class training.
Speaking to the journalists, Puna says the need for people to have access to information that is factual and fair will always be the cornerstone of the partnership between the media and regional institutions in the pacific.
“Your work is ensuring communities and people that our leaders serve are informed and engaged on the policies strengthening our common regional future. Collaboration and cooperation are as critical to resourcing the work that we do for the Pacific as it surely is for resourcing the work you do on reporting on regionalism.
“Master Class Training introduced journalists to 2050 Strategy, Trade to 2050 Agreement (Samoa), Pacific to COP27 and Ocean-Climate, Gender to 2050 – the Pacific SDGs postcard, Pacific Islands Forum history, presentation from Civil Society Organisations (PRINGO Alliance and PIANGO), technical session to cover the forum leaders meeting and briefing by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Communication and Public Affairs Department,” he says.
Puna says the conversations on development priorities for the Pacific and what the aspirations mean to people in the pacific must always be informed by the voices of the people.
He says the professional ethics and standards of pacific media industry must be shaped and performed according to media ethics advocating positive changes.
Puna acknowledges the Australian government for supporting the Master Class Training.
