Two local journalists win SPREP awards

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Two of the four winners of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) award, the 2020 Vision Pacific Media Award, are Solomon Islanders.

They are Jeremy Gwao of Tavuli News, who won the online category and Moffat Mamu of the Solomon Star, who scooped the Print category award.

Gwao received his award during the official closing dinner of the 6th Pacific Media Summit for stories highlighting Pacific people’s fight against climate crisis.

Karl Kuper, on behalf of SPREP and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, says through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with financial support from Aotearoa New Zealand, the 2022 Vision Pasifika Media Awards shines the spotlight on stories of Pacific resilience in the face of the escalating climate crisis. 

“The Awards commemorate the role of Pacific Media in amplifying our Pacific voice on this fight for our lives. 

“I want to emphasise that the Pacific media is crucial in sharing our climate change experiences and how we address these challenges as we strive for resilience. We are grateful for the work that you do. T

“he stories we are celebrating tonight have highlighted our Pacific people’s fighting spirit and our resilience. They deserve recognition.

“Let me congratulate all the winners of the 2022 Vision Pasifika Media Awards. Enjoy your evening,” Kuper said.

He adds by acknowledging the support from Aotearoa New Zealand through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme for funding all the wonderful prizes.

Gwao said the awards will be recognised for a very long time and he owed it to Late Francis Filia who he wrote about his story based on human right caused by climate change.

“I’m honoured and humbly thanked SPREP for recognising my work in covering Climate Change in the Pacific.

“Today climate change is not only affecting environment but and is slowly affecting human rights and our basic rights.

“So being part of such platform makes a bonus for me to share my story abroad and me being the mouth piece of our people in Solomon Islands and the Pacific,” he said. 

In addition the other winners are Fabian Randerath of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation who won the Television category and Sere Tikotikoivatu a s student Journalist at the University of the South Pacific (USP) writing for the Wansolwara who won the Tertiary Level Journalism category.    

Moreover, SPREP was also the sponsor of the 6th Pacific Media Summit farewell dinner held in Honiara.

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