Officials at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting discuss many issues affecting the region and its communities. Photo credit: TNTV.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
The eyes and ears of the community, media is the trusted voice that helps Pacific people make sense of the challenges they face daily, according to Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General HE Baron Divavesi Waqa.
Speaking at the PIFS and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) hosted Regional Media Workshop in Honiara, Solomon Islands, which took place ahead of the 54th PIF Leaders Meeting, the Secretary General expressed his gratitude for media attending the annual Leaders Meeting and helping to keep officials accountable and transparent.
Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited’s (PCBL) Content Manager Tia Soakai was on the ground in Honiara for the duration of PIFS Leaders Meeting (September 8-12), assisting the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) crew to tell these important stories emerging from the talanoa, from a local – and Pacific – perspective.
PCBL’s Tia Soakai supports the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation during the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Covering topics from climate, New Caledonia, West Papua, Fukushima nuclear wastewater issues, the Pacific Resilience Facility and regional labour mobility among others, Chief Executive Officer of SIBC Johnson Honimae says PCBL and Tia’s support has made the greatest difference to SIBC’s coverage of the Leaders Meeting.
“Tia coached the SIBC TV team in all aspects of television for our small team of journalists and programme producers,” Johnson says.
“Her leadership and experience in this area was greatly appreciated.”
SIBC’s Johnson Honimae is filmed during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.
Coverage of the Leaders Meeting was a collaborative regional affair, with PCBL collaborating with the Solomon Islands Office of the Prime Minister, PIF, PINA, NBC, Tavuli News, Fiji TV, Tonga Broadcasting Commission, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Niu Productions and TNTV to problem solve and face the many challenges of covering a huge event such as the Leaders Meeting.
As well as production support, PCBL and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) also assisted in getting Serial Digital Interface (SDI) cables from Aotearoa to SIBC before the event started.
Johnson says SIBC is indebted to the New Zealand High Commissioner in Solomon Islands HE Jonathan Curr for accepting the request to transport the cables to Honiara.
“The cables arrived on time for the rehearsal for the historic and spectacular opening ceremony, which was broadcast throughout the region on Pasifika TV,” he says.
“All in all, the assistance from PCBL boosted the capacity of SIBC TV to cover the 54th PIFLM for the people of Solomon Islands and the region at large.”
Chief Executive Officer of PCBL Natasha Meleisea says she is proud of Tia, for doing a phenomenal job with our Pacific partners and their journalists at PIF.
Moreso, that she is a daughter from the Solomon Islands who is personally invested in ensuring the best outcomes not only for her island nation but for the Pacific region as a whole.
“PCBL’s mandate is clear: to empower Pacific broadcasters, amplify Pacific voices, and provide equitable access to shared stories across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa; the great ocean that binds us as one Pacific family,” Natasha says.
“Ahead of this event we wanted the PIF coverage to reflect our priority areas of increasing regional connectivity, building regional capacity, content creation and sharing, and of course, collaboration through meaningful partnerships.
“I believe we achieved this and more through our mahi at the Leaders Meeting and we are excited about ensuring Pacific voices travel far beyond meeting room walls and the coral reef at future events.”
Visit the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat website for more information.
