Journalists and media professionals from Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently gathered in Port Moresby for a three-day investigative reporting training sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The workshop, held from May 1–3, 2024, focused on equipping participants with the skills needed to tackle illegal environmental activities and corruption while promoting sustainable natural resource management and climate change awareness.
A diverse group of twenty-seven individuals representing PNG’s prominent news media outlets, universities, government departments, and non-government organizations immersed themselves in sessions covering investigative reporting techniques, media law, journalist protection, and media accountability.
The training facilitated the sharing of experiences and challenges among participants, fostering the development of communities of practice within the journalism landscape of PNG.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Meredith Waters, Project Director for USAID’s PNG Sustainable Landscapes (PNGSL) Program, underscored the importance of the media’s role in safeguarding the environment and ensuring accountability.
“The training aims to equip you with the knowledge and capacity to report on the environmental issues happening in the communities and the country.”
“You are charged with the great task of sharing knowledge with communities and relevant partners to ensure accountability,” Waters highlighted.
Conducted by PNGSL, a PGK 70 million initiative committed to preserving Papua New Guinea’s natural resources and biodiversity, the training reflects USAID’s dedication to supporting the government and communities in their environmental conservation efforts.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ted Mamu, PNGSL Acting Chief of Party, highlighted the critical role journalists play in informing the public and advocating for sustainable practices.
“Your role as journalists and the media is not only to provide factual and in-depth content on the issues of environmental accountability but to further inform the public on best practices and sustainable pathways to hold parties responsible for their actions,” Mamu stressed.
Participants came from various organizations, including the Post Courier, The National, EMTV, National Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC), PNGFM, FM100, TV Wan/Loop News, ABC, Sunday Bulletin, Inside PNG, Divine Word University, the University of PNG, PNG’s University of Technology, the Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR), and the Climate Change Development Authority.