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PINA CONDUCTS REGIONAL CRISIS REPORTING WORKSHOP

Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) will mark World Press Freedom Day with two activities it believes will bring long-term benefits. It is sending two members to Manila, Philippines to participate in a UNESCO conference on media and terrorism. A report on the conference will be presented upon their return.

From 28 April to 4 May, PINA will hold a special workshop at Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea, focusing on developing a crisis reporting training module that can be used throughout the Pacific Islands region.

"Training-the-Trainers in Crisis Reporting" will be designed so it can be adapted by trainers at the regional, national or newsroom level, or in journalism school courses. It will be distributed through manuals and on CDs. Workshop trainers and participants will also join the 3 May World Press Freedom Day celebrations on Divine Word University's campus. This will include panel discussions with students.

Peter Lomas of PINA says the need for crisis reporting training is great, as the region has recently undergone unprecedented political upheavals. Secessionist war on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea; clashes on the Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands border, ethnic warfare in Solomon Islands; and a violent coup in Fiji placed news media on the front lines. "The reaction and the role of the news media in times of violence and crisis is critical, with long-term impacts both nationally and regionally," Lomas said.

AusAid Pacific Media Initiative is providing funding and support for PINA's workshop.
For further information on PINA's World Press Freedom Day activities, contact Nina Ratulele, Pacific Islands News Association, pina@is.com.fj.