Foundations of Journalism ToT workshop sets pace for 2025 media training

CERTIFIED: Fourteen journalists, editors and radio programme producers from various mainstrean media houses in the country sat for three days at the Hilton Hotel for the first Foundations of Journalism Training of Trainers workshop. All 14 are now Certified FoJ Trainers, and will lead training efforts within each of their own newsrooms. PIC: ABCID

FINDING a balance in the level of skills and competence in the mainstream media remains a constant challenge for the Media Council of Papua New Guinea.

Facilitated by the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) and ABC International Development (ABCID) through its Media Development Initiative (MDI) programme, the training of trainers’ workshop was aimed at establishing an initial Papua New Guinea media cohort of certified Media Personnel who can facilitate training workshops on the Foundations of Journalism (FoJ).

Fourteen participants comprising young and seasoned journalists, editors and programme producers sat for three days of training at the Hilton Hotel from February 11th to 13th to improve their knowledge and understanding of how adults learn, the different ways of effective training workshop facilitation, and how to incorporate in-person training with online aspects of the workshop.

GROUP WORK: Journalists were taken through group work and presentation sessions, incorporating all they were learning. PIC: ABCID

The Foundations of Journalism course is designed as a tool which will now be used by the Council and its media house members to provide recent journalism school graduates entering the industry all the knowledge they need to perform their roles.

It is also a strong skills refresher programme for senior journalists and editors.

MCPNG President, Neville Choi says the FoJ training is the answer to a long-held debate by media school-trained media personnel and newsroom-floor trained staff.

“The Foundations of Journalism training programme is at least three weeks of in-person training, and 30 online modules you complete over the length of the training programme. This will now set the minimum level of skill sets required in any newsroom in the country.” Says Mr. Choi.