Media Practitioners Strengthen Disaster Communication Skills in Palau

By Eliza Kukutu in Koror, Palau

Media practitioners from across the Pacific are enhancing their capacity to deliver effective disaster information through a Media Master Class Training currently underway in Koror, Palau.

The training, which started yesterday, is being held alongside the Second Pacific Disaster Risk Management Ministers (PDRMM) Meeting, which brings together Ministers and senior officials responsible for disaster management across the region.

Supported by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), the training aims to strengthen collaboration between media professionals and disaster management agencies, to bridge existing communication gaps and improve the flow of accurate and timely information to Pacific communities before, during, and after disasters.

Throughout the sessions, journalists and communications officers from National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) have been discussing challenges and opportunities in disaster communication, including strategies to enhance coordination between media outlets and government agencies.

Speaking to SIBC News, NDMO Principal Productions Officer, Nelson Anaia said he hopes the training will improve his ability to communicate critical information to the public.

“I’ve been working at the NDMO for some time, and this is the first media training of this kind that I’ve participated in,” Ainea said.

“I’ve already learned a lot from the first day, especially about the challenges media face in obtaining timely information during disasters. This training highlights the need to bridge the gap between media professionals and communications officers to ensure our communities are better informed about disaster-related issues.”

Pacific Island nations remain among the most vulnerable in the world to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels.

As part of the training participants will also have the opportunity to report on the PDRMM Meeting, which officially opens this morning at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in Koror.

Vice President of the Pacific Islands News Association, Leilani Reklai, said the meeting provides an invaluable opportunity for participants to engage directly with regional leaders, scientists, and disaster management experts.

“Often, we don’t have the chance as journalists to have all the scientists, government representatives, and organizational heads under one roof,” Reklai said.

“This gives participants the opportunity to ask questions, conduct interviews, and gain firsthand information to strengthen their disaster reporting.”

“At a time when the region is facing the increasing impacts of natural hazards and climate change, having the right tools and information to inform the public is critically important,” she added.

The Media Master Class Training will conclude on Friday.

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