BY MIKE TUA
THE 6th Pacific Media Summit 2022 initially kicked off its series of pre-summit workshops today at Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
Today’s workshops were attended by young and senior working media professionals from the Solomon Islands and other Pacific island countries.
The series of workshops were facilitated by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), and Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC). The covered topics are Media Role in Investigating the Management of Public Resources and ‘Sports Media Dialogue.
In conjunction with today’s workshop on the Media Role in Investigating the Management of Public Resources, the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists’ Network (PACJN), PINA, and UNODC are partnering to present two Pre-Summit Workshops plus a plenary session, “Exposing Corruption through investigative and cross border journalism Reporting.
Speaking at the opening of the Media Role in Investigating the Management of Public Resources workshop, UNODC, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser – Pacific, Ms. Marie Pegie Cauchois told participants that the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN) was launched at the 2019 Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) CEOs Summit to ensure Pacific journalists are more sustainably trained and prepared and have ownership of their engagement in integrity and anti-corruption reporting.
“PINA is the peak regional media organization in the Pacific, representing the interests of media professionals and linking radio, television, newspapers, magazines, online services, national media associations (NMAs), and journalism schools in 23 Pacific countries.
“In partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), PINA is delivering the Building the Capacity of Pacific Media to Report on Anti-corruption project.
“This project targets media and journalists in the 14 Pacific Island countries, as part of UNODC’s activities within the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, which is supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme,” Ms. Marie Pegie Cauchois said.
On a similar note, the workshop also hopes to ensure participants have a better understanding of the role of the media in investigating the management of public resources; how to increase reporting on UNCAC and anti-corruption by Pacific Island journalists, and transfer knowledge of corruption awareness to other media in-country as trainers and through partnerships; and specifically, the participants will have clarity and understanding on how to access more information and resources on the management of public resources.
Ms. Marie Pegie Cauchois said the Media Role in Investigating the Management of Public Resources workshop aims to enable Pacific media journalists, CEOs, and owners to understand the role of the media in investigating the management of public resources.
“We want you to share your experiences and challenges reporting on anti-corruption; discuss ways for further cooperation including with support from UNODC, PACJN, and PINA in reporting on corruption prevention, along with UNCAC and Teieniwa Vision implementation; and Increase the capacity of media to monitor and report on corruption,” she said.
