A Certificate course on Media and Journalism studies will be launched at the Tonga Community and Development Centre, in Nuku'alofa next week.

It is the first time that a formal training course in journalism will be offered in Tonga and the first 20 students will represent most of Tonga's media organisations.

Tu'ifua Petelo the Coordinator of the media course and the Deputy Director of Schools said that the course will begin at the certificate level and will run until the end of the year, "but it will continue upwards to the diploma level next year. The successful reporters who wish to pursue further education up to the Bachelor level in an university can do so because the certificate and diploma credentials will be recognised overseas, in countries like in Australia."

Tu'ifua gave a brief insight of what will be taught during the first semester, which will start on March 26. "There are five teaching modules, Journalism Values and Ethics, Basic News Writing, Journalism Skills that focuses on research and grammar, Civics and others, which include Tonga's economy, politics and social issues, as well as practical training. The course will also cover the special needs of different media establishments, print, broadcasting and online news services.

"The quality of this course is there and it goes without saying that its credibility has been established the only thing needed now is to be implemented ".

Tu'ifua said that the course will conducted by local media people who have undertaken a one month course on adult training "and have familiarised themselves with the training modules, which have been specially developed by the Melbourne Development Institute to suit the special needs of the individual five Pacific countries which are participating in this course. They are Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa."

The local trainers for the First Semester are Laumanu Petelo, Monalisa Palu, Nanise Fifita, 'Ofa Guttenbeil, Patisepa Saafi, Polotu Paunga, Taina Kami, Siaosi Lavaka, Sione Vikilani, Paula Fineanganofo, Pesi Fonua and Viliami Fifita.

The Media and Journalism Training program is jointly funded by the Australian Aid Agency AusAid and the Tongan government with a lot of moral support from the Media Council Inc of Tonga.

The first students intake for the certificate course are reporters who are currently working in the industry, "but next year it will be opened up to the public, like the fresh out of high school students who want to pursue a career in the industry," said Tu'ifua.