First ever PNG Media-led Trainers Training highlights need for more support

A FIRST: BBC Media Action & MCPNG Social Media Training of Trainers Workshop Facilitators Matthew Vari (Post-Courier Digital Editor); and Genesis Ketan (PNGFM News Manager).

PAPUA New Guinea’s first ever PNG media-led Training of Trainers workshop on social media best practices has highlighted the need for more management and organisational support and investment into the digital divisions of mainstream media newsrooms.

Held over three days with the support of BBC Media Action, the training was led by PNGFM News Manager and Treasurer to the MCPNG, Genesis Ketan, and Post-Courier Digital Editor, Matthew Vari and involved digital officers from mainstream member newsrooms.

BBC media Action is an independent international charity established by the BBC with the aim of using media to support international development. It operates globally to raise awareness, influence attitudes and behaviour in communities, and enhance the capacity of media sectors in transitional countries.

GROUPWORK: The Digital Officers from each of the media mainstream newsrooms presenting some of their work during the training workshop.

In partnership with civil society, local media, and other organisations, BBC Media Action produces communication programmes and trusted media to inform and engage communities.

They began working in the Pacific in 2022.

While BBC Media Action has been running programmes within various countries since then, they only recently established an in-country presence in PNG.

This first training of trainers workshop was seen as the first step toward equipping public interest media and journalists with skills and tools to counter Disinformation and Misinformation in the country.

CERTIFIED: Workshop participants, facilitators, MCPNG President Neville Choi, and UK High Commissioner to PNG, H. E. Anne Macro at the end of the training workshop.

The training programme focused on the effective and ethical use of social media for journalism, tailored to local PNG needs and challenges.

The workshop also highlighted serious capacity gaps between newsrooms committed to improving digital reach and prominence, to those struggling with manpower issues.

UK High Commissioner to PNG, Ann Macro, speaking at the opening of the training workshop said in the world of media, BBC stands head and shoulders above most in integrity and credibility.

She said it was this these same qualities that the BBC, through BBC Media Action, would like promoted and championed in PNG media.

MCPNG President, who presented a session on the Media Council Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, said while every newsroom now had a multi-platform delivery system, there was a need for mainstream media to deepen its role as informer and educator.

This first TOT workshop has now seen the certification of reps from 10 media organisations in the mainstream media sector.

There are plans to roll out at least two more TOT workshops outside of Port Moresby.