ABU’s Pacific members to get more assistance

The ABU & AIBD’s fourth Pacific Media Partnership Conference was such a success the Union will continue to partner its Pacific broadcasters for future conferences and initiatives.

The 2013 PMP Conference and associated workshops in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from the 17-19 September was organised by the ABU and hosted by member the Vanuatu Broadcasting Television Corporation (VBTC).

The event themed “Broadcasting for Development” aimed to provide a platform for the pacific region’s broadcasters and other media professionals to share knowledge and expertise to improve media in the region.

Vanuatu’s Acting Prime Minister, the Hon Edward Nipake Natapei, said at the official opening that it was important to share information and learn from the region’s experiences.

“There is an important issue of climate change affecting the Pacific region,” he said. “Broadcasters must inform people about rising sea levels that affect people who live in coastal areas.”

ABU organiser and Director of Technology, Dr Amal Punchihewa, said it was particularly helpful for isolated broadcasters to exchange, clarify, collaborate and discuss their views and experiences and help in finding effective solutions for local and regional problems.

“The conference enabled the participants to interact, share and learn from more than 12 experts who presented on wide-ranging topics including implementing digital technologies, journalism, sports coverage and reporting,” he said.

The three-day PMP 2013 comprised two days of pre-conference workshops followed by a full-day conference that offered media personnel an opportunity to discuss issues crucial to the sustainability and development of broadcasting in the region.

More than 80 journalists, program professionals, senior executives, engineers, policy makers and regulatory authority members from 13 countries attended the event, which was supported by ABU member NHK International of Japan, the ITU, UNDP, the AIBD, Radio New Zealand and TVNZ.