JOURNALISTS from various media houses in Port Moresby recently attended an Investigative Journalism Workshop facilitated by Transparency International PNG at the Loloata Island Resort outside of Port Moresby.
The workshop aimed to equip journalists with essential online researching tools to aid in journalistic work.
TIPNG as a Civil Society Organization and a very vocal anti-corruption body, brought together a group of journalists to impart knowledge and share insights into reporting about corruption and ways to carryout their (journalists’) research around the topic.
Yuambari Haihuie, TIPNG Deputy Director of Partnership and Policy, in his presentation, stated that media workers play a crucial role in upholding one of the important pillars of democracy.
With one of the media’s roles being to provide citizens with relevant information about important political processes, TIPNG hopes that this imparted knowledge will be part and parcel toward the way journalists carry out their research on topics of National importance and lead them to delve into areas of journalism that are most lacking today; one being, long form journalism or investigative reporting.
Throughout the course of the workshop, discussions and concerns were raised around the challenges faced by media workers and the lack of support from certain newsroom editors or managers of media houses.
Concerns were also raised on the availability of welfare frameworks through Civil Society Organizations such as the TIPNG, and bodies like PNGMC for media workers, post workshops.
PNG Media Council Secretary, Belinda Kora challenged reporters to report without bias, especially in political reporting.
She urged reporters to use the line ‘it was a paid trip or job’ in their scripts if the story comes from the sponsorship of a politician or a person in power. She urged all media workers to observe and uphold the media code of ethics.
Journalists who attended were encouraged to utilize the learnings of the workshop to enhance their research capabilities in order to improve the standard of reporting in the country.
In his closing remarks, President of the PNG Media Council, Neville Choi, stressed the importance of Investigative Journalism by encouraging journalists to improve their style of reporting as well.
“You have to improve the way you cover your story; improve the way you research it and improve the way you present it”.
Neville Choi, PNGMC President
He said PNGMC in partnership with TIPNG and other relevant agencies will continue to support media workers; and workshops such as this will help to strengthen the code.
Mr Choi also stated that the PNGMC is currently pushing for proper recognition of media workers at the national level.
The workshop is a follow up of TIPNG’s first workshop which was focused on “Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies” with the aim to build the media’s capacity in investigative reporting and impart an understanding of the media as an integral part of the integrity system.
It was facilitated by TIPNG in collaboration with the PNG Media Council and United Nations Development Program, funded by the European Union,
PHOTO FILE: Courtesy of TIPNG Facebook Page