NUKU’ALOFA -Tackling corruption is on the agenda for media representatives gathering in Tonga this week.
This is part of the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UNPRAC) Project on the role of media in oversight and accountability workshop.
The two-day workshop is part of the Pacific Media Summit in the Kingdom.
The workshop is funded by UNPRAC. in collaboration with Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and is held prior to the PINA. biannual conference.
According to the UNPRAC, Pacific journalists have a key role in keeping Governments accountable on anti-corruption commitments and the proper functioning of integrity agencies.
“This workshop from the UNPRAC Project aims to provide working journalists with the tools, story ideas and investigative skills to fully cover the work of Pacific integrity institutions, well beyond just rewriting a media release provided by the Government or agency.
“This will be a practical workshop conducted by professional media trainers and peer journalists, targeting journalists who will be able to take these tools, techniques and skills back to their home media association and help train other local journalists.
“This workshop will be conducted in the form of a training of the trainer and the participants will be expected to further transfer their knowledge in-country,” says UNPRAC.
The UNPRAC project aims to build the capacity of journalists from the Pacific Island nations to prevent, detect and investigate cases of corruption through greater awareness of the media’s role as a non-state actor.
Professional UN and other media working in the corruption field will assist as resource persons and to assist participants to mold their case studies into quality journalism, with a particular focus on building from the work of integrity agencies in the Pacific.
Civil society representatives and the local Youth of Tonga against Corruption will also participate and contribute on how corruption impacts on individual community members.
The gender impact of corruption on women and girls will also be addressed. The UNPRAC team can contribute the factual information and potential media entry points on the UN Convention against Corruption. Samoa Observer
