PACIFIC journalists are calling on media owners in Papua New Guinea to provide more security and health insurance cover for their employees.

The statement from the Pacific Freedom Forum comes after two PNG journalists were wounded in a machete attack last week while on assignment in Central Province electorate.

The National newspaper reported that its journalists Clifford Faiparik and Jason Gima Wuri, of the state owned National Broadcasting Commission were attacked while returning to Port Moresby on Thursday last week.

The pair were travelling with a delegation accompanying the Goilala MP William Samb.

Faiparik was treated for wounds to his elbows and immediately discharged, while Wuri underwent surgery for gashes to his right hand. The group escaped by driving through a make-shift barrier the attackers had put up to stop the vehicle. According to the Pacific Freedom Forum co-chair Monica Miller, more protection was needed for PNG media workers

She said where security failed PNG media bosses had a duty-of-care for medical treatment and proper insurance schemes.

There is a string of documented cases of attacks on journalists in PNG.