PCBL's Tia Soakai and Stefan Armbruster with some of the Pacific journalists undertaking the Media Masterclass, ahead of PRETMM6, in Port Moresby.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, Pasifika TV/PCBL
Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), supported by The Pacific Community (SPC), is ensuring coordinated Pacific-led coverage of the sixth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (PRETMM6), from May 4-8, in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Tia Soakai, Regional Content Manager and Stefan Armbruster, Regional News Development Project Lead at PCBL are in Port Moresby ahead of the SPC and PNG Government-led meeting, focused on energy security, maritime transport, regional connectivity and COP31 alignment.
The pair will take 35 PNG-based media practitioners and three SPC-selected Pacific journalists from each of the subregions under their guidance to deliver PCBL’s Media Masterclass, coordinate journalists and support their coverage of PRETMM6, as well as the PNG Media Summit on May 1.
Tia says it is an opportunity for PCBL to help build capacity within the Pacific media industry, while ensuring real-time content is produced to raise awareness on the very relevant energy-related issues, across the region.
“We really have an overarching goal to create a connected Pacific storytelling pipeline, as momentum builds toward regional events with global impact – such as the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Palau, and global events such as Pre-COP and COP31, where the Pacific collective voice will play a vital role in negotiations,” Tia says.
“This meeting kicks off a series of events, where Stefan and I will work with Pacific journalists to ensure Pacific stories are told by Pacific journalists and ministerial outcomes are delivered to the region via Pasifika TV and by local broadcasters, in a way our Pacific audience resonate with.”
Tia adds they do not want this event covered as just another regional meeting.
“We want Pacific journalists to tell Pacific stories, grounded in lived experience, community voice, and real impact.
“This is phase one, and phase two is where the real depth comes in, journalists return home to produce feature stories from their own communities, connecting high-level decisions to everyday realities.
“This approach ensures that by the time we reach Pre-COP, COP, and the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, the Pacific narrative is not driven by statements, but by the voices, experiences, and priorities of our people.”
Stefan says the Media Masterclass, which takes place four days before PRETMM6, will encourage journalists to broaden the story angles they explore, and tell stories which will resonate regionally, not just within their own country.
“It gives us content which can be used across the region by our broadcasters,” Stefan says.
“So many Pacific journalists have an in-depth knowledge of their own country but not as many know what is happening regionally…this focus aligns to the PIFS and CROP agency concept of regionality and is an example of how we can support our partners in the Pacific achieve collective goals.”
The Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting: Scaling Connectivity for a Prosperous Blue Pacific takes place at APEC House, Port Moresby, from May 4–8, 2026.
Meanwhile, the PNG Media Summit: Press Freedom through Human Rights, Security and Innovation, is being staged at Crown Hotel, Port Moresby, on May 1, 2026.
Check your Pacific broadcasters or Pasifika TV for event coverage.