For the first time the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue is hosting a series of media training workshops focusing on National budget and public finance reporting this month.
Organized by the BCN’s News team and funded by AusAid through ABC Australia’s Pacific Media Assistance Scheme known as PACMAS, the workshop aims to improve the understanding and skills of journalists in the area of economic reporting .
The 4 days training will feature representatives from across society. It officially began last Friday featuring the Deputy New Zealand High Commissioner Andre Van Der Walt and the Financial Secretary Poi Kapaga who both spoke on the topic of national budget and development assistance.
The Deputy NZ High Commissioner remarked at the opening day that such initiative encouraged transparency and helps the media to have a better understanding and interpret complex economic issues and terms such as the national budget for the benefit of the public with the help of experts.
Participants who attended the first day also remarked that it was an informative session and gained new knowledge about Niue’s National budget.
The workshop also aims to encourage discussions with stakeholders such as government, civil society, communities and the private sector through the media for the benefit of the public.
These stakeholders have been invited to be part of this workshop which will continue this Friday with community representatives and civil society and ends next week on Friday with the private sector and SOE’s.