Media practitioners receive training on parliamentary reporting
Caption: PACMAS Consultant (Pacific Media Assistance Scheme) Steve
Chase briefing the media community during the workshop.
Journalists and Media practitioners of Samoa took part in a workshop conducted by the Journalism Association of Samoa in partnership with P.A.C.M.A.S (Pacific Media Assistance Scheme) and the Legislative Office in efforts to identify and address challenges that political reporters encounter when compiling parliamentary articles and news stories.
ABC Australia's veteran parliamentary journalist Steve Chase conveyed during the workshop that the main objective of why P.A.C.M.A.S have partnered up with the Legislative Office and the Journalism Association of Samoa is to enhance the skills needed by journalists here in the country to ensure that news coverage on parliamentary matters are accurate, impartial and unbiased.
Mr. Chase stated that he has covered parliamentary proceedings for quite some time, and says that he understands some of the issues that journalists and media practitioners face when covering parliamentary news.
"I was a parliamentary reporter for thirteen years in Sydney, so I know exactly what Samoan parliamentary reporters are going through,"
He further added that P.A.C.M.A.S, the Legislative Office and the Journalism Association of Samoa have worked collaboratively to put together a Samoan parliamentary reporter's handbook which aims at guiding the journalist when covering parliamentary stories.
"The handbook aims to assist and help our parliamentary reporters cover parliamentary proceedings, as well as helping them understand some of the information processes of Parliament. It's like going to a rugby game, the match is much more enjoyable if you understand all the rules," he said.
Mr. Chase also said that a Samoan version of the handbook is currently being put together. It's in the process of being translated as some parliamentary jargons and technical terms may be difficult to translate accurately.
The initiative concluded with the official launching ceremony for the publication which was attended by government officials and media practitioners in Samoa.