The President of the Media Association of Vanuatu (MAV), Sale Sumbe, welcomed the participants and IFJ facilitators on behalf of the association.

Sumbe said MAV was pleased to partner with the IFJ to deliver the training, noting that the organisation’s last training programme in Vanuatu was held in 2017, nine years ago.

“It is good to have the IFJ team here again running the training,” Sumbe said.

He said the theme of the workshop, women’s empowerment and the role of the media, was particularly important, noting that women’s empowerment should not be viewed solely as a women’s issue, but as a matter of human rights, development and education.

Sumbe said journalists play an important role in shaping public understanding through the stories they tell, the voices they include and the questions they ask.

“As journalists, the stories that we tell, the voices we include and the questions we ask can either reinforce inequality or contribute to change,” he said.

He also spoke about the importance of Vanuatu’s culture and constitutional principles in recognising the role of women in society.

Sumbe said culture could help recognise and strengthen the role women play in communities and society, while supporting principles of justice and equality.

He also spoke about the organisational development of MAV, saying one of the association’s objectives is to strengthen the organisation, including through its constitution.

He said a revised constitution is expected to be considered and adopted at the association’s next Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is expected to take place in the coming months.

Sumbe encouraged participants to make full use of the training by asking questions, actively participating, sharing their experiences and learning from one another.

Jane Worthington of the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific said journalists play an important role in representing the voices of people and supporting democracy, while also facing many challenges in their work.

She said she was pleased to be in Vanuatu and acknowledged the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the programme.

Worthington said the training formed part of a wider Pacific project involving global unions and federations, including the IFJ, working together to improve outcomes for workers across the region.

She said many workers across the Pacific continue to face challenges in accessing decent work and adequate employment rights.

“This project is a bridge,” Worthington said, explaining that the initiative aims to connect workers’ voices with the broader public and increase awareness of workers’ rights.

She said the IFJ also works to educate journalists about their own workplace rights, noting that many journalists are not fully aware of their rights as workers.

Worthington said journalists face many of the same challenges as other workers, particularly in relation to job security, working conditions and employment arrangements.

She said the project seeks to strengthen awareness, improve reporting on issues surrounding decent work and promote stronger gender representation.

Worthington also spoke about the importance of gender equality and inclusive representation in journalism, saying the IFJ has been working on gender issues for many years through training programmes for journalists around the world.

She said the organisation is committed to gender mainstreaming, gender equality and creating more inclusive leadership structures that represent people of all genders.

She also welcomed IFJ affiliates from across the Pacific and acknowledged their contribution to organising the workshop.

Worthington said the work was completed within a short period and praised the commitment of the affiliates, noting that many are small or not fully staffed organisations and often carry out this work in their own time.

She thanked them for their professionalism, commitment and passion for journalism and for strengthening the future of the industry in the Pacific.

The two-day programme is sponsored by DFAT, with Shannon Miskelly from the Australian High Commission also attending the opening.

Miskelly said Australia was pleased to support media development and the work of journalists and media organisations across the Pacific.

She said the training was timely and important, particularly as countries in the region continue to prepare for elections and other democratic processes.

Miskelly highlighted the important role journalists play in shaping how communities understand society, political issues, public life and elections.

She said journalists do not simply determine which stories are told, but also influence whose voices are heard and how different groups are represented.

With women continuing to make important contributions as leaders in government, business, civil society and communities across the Pacific, Miskelly said they remain underrepresented in many political institutions and can still face barriers to having their voices heard.

She said this placed an important responsibility on the media to contribute to more inclusive and balanced public discussions.

Miskelly said the training would provide journalists with an opportunity to tell more inclusive stories, challenge stereotypes where they exist and ensure a wider range of voices are reflected in public conversations.

She also stressed the importance of participants learning from one another by sharing their experiences, challenges and lessons from across the Pacific.

Miskelly welcomed participants from Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and Solomon Islands, saying their presence demonstrated the value of regional collaboration and the importance of sharing experiences across Pacific countries.

She encouraged participants to make the most of the training by asking questions, sharing their experiences and considering how journalism can contribute to greater equality and more inclusive public discussions.

She said Australia’s support for media development reflected its belief in the important role of strong and independent media in supporting democracy and strengthening public understanding.

Miskelly thanked journalists and media workers for their contribution to informing communities and strengthening public understanding of issues that matter to people in Vanuatu and across the wider Pacific.

She wished the participants a successful training programme and said she looked forward to hearing about the outcomes of the workshop.

The “Rewriting the Story: Media, Gender and Politics” training focuses on strengthening journalists’ understanding of gender equality, political participation and inclusive reporting, while providing an opportunity for Pacific journalists to exchange experiences and examine how media coverage can contribute to a more balanced and representative public conversation.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST