Pacific Broadcasters meet on Climate Change [1]
Monday, February 9, 2009 - 22:29. Updated on Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 15:26.
A two-days Pacific Climate Change Workshop for Pacific Broadcasters started at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre, Nuku'alofa, this morning.
The workshop attracted broadcasters from throughout the region, including representatives of Radio New Zealand, Fiji Television, PNG's National Broadcasting Corporation, Tonga Broadcasting Commission, and Samoa.
Sally Ann Wilson, a Commonwealth Broadcasting Association producer from the United Kingdom and the co-ordinator of the workshop said today that the objective of the workshop was to show the Pacific media how to get important stories on the subject of 'climate change' to its audience, "to increase the awareness on the rapid changes of climate around the world, and in the Pacific region."
She said that there is a need for more human-related stories on climate change "because that is what people are interested in and want to see. By following up and reporting on what happened to a Nadi family that was affected by the recent flooding in Fiji is what the audience want to engage in," she added.
During the workshop broadcasters will be given insights on the issue of climate change and how it is affecting the Pacific region. They will also be given opportunities to identify barriers preventing their reportage and how they can better improve it.
Sally emphasised the need for new ideas that could produce inspirational stories and attract audiences to the issue of climate change. "We want Pacific Broadcasters to walk away from this workshop feeling that they need to do this and that they want to do it and this is a good opportunity to do so because we have together various broadcasters from around the region for the regional meeting," she said.
The Pacific Climate Change Workshop is organised by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) in association with UNESCO, and it is a lead-up to the main CBA Conference for the Pacific that will be officially opened on Wednesday, February 11.
Conference
The CBA Pacific Conference, under the banner, 'Broadcasting for a Better Tomorrow' will be opened by the Acting Prime Minister Hon Dr Viliami Tangi on February 11.
During the two days conference, participants will dwell on issues such as Pacific Media Freedom Challenges, Human Rights, the Key Role of Guidelines for Political and Election coverage, Broadcasting: the New Zealand and Pacific relationship and other issues.
Following on February 13 are three separate workshops on regulatory issues for those responsible for broadcasting regulation, a technical workshop for engineers and a management workshop for Pacific Island broadcasting managers.
It is expected that over 100 broadcasters will be attending the CBA conference in Tonga.