A five-day media training workshop for provincial stringers is currently underway in Honiara, aimed at sharpening journalistic skills and promote responsible storytelling across the islands.
Organised by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) in partnership with BBC Media Action, the training runs along the theme; “The Islands Storyteller: A Refresher on Modern News Reporting.”
It brings together provincial media personnel to explore contemporary techniques in news writing, digital tools, ethics, and social media.
Senior journalists Robert Iroga, Gina Kekea, and multimedia specialist Karl Vaekesa are facilitating the sessions, which focus on empowering participants to produce more impactful and ethical reporting.
Mr Iroga, a journalist and facilitator, said the training is vital for grassroots communicators who are not formally trained but have a passion for media.
“What they learn is important and critical to pass on to our people. With the rise of media platforms, they need to understand the basics of news writing to effectively do their job. They are not yet qualified journalists — they are people with an interest in media.
“So, we are helping to shape them to tell their narratives to their audiences. This is beneficial for them to tell the untold stories in the provinces, and with this knowledge, they can help disseminate those stories from their communities,” Iroga said.
Shoreyann Ragoso, a journalism student from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), said the training has helped her connect theory with practice.
“This workshop gives me a clearer understanding of how news is gathered and written in real-life situations.
“It gives clear understanding in how to write news using different angles, and the training will help me when I complete my studies,” she said.
The workshop is part of ongoing efforts to build media capacity and foster inclusive development through improved communication practices.
By ANDRIANAH DELASALET KOLE
Solomon Star, Honiara
