MEDIA TRAINING
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN VANUATU

Radio Australia's Pacific Beat On the Mat programme this week focused on Vanuatu, media ethics, training and debate over a possible Freedom of Information law.

Reported by CAROLINE TIRIMAN

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RadioAustralia On the Mat - web anchor page11/8/6
www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/onthemat/stories/s1712724.htm

RadioAustralia On the Mat podcast11/8/6 www.radioaustralia.net.au/podcast/pacbeat/pacbeat_onthemat_20060811.mp3

Ethical dilemmas for journalists
TODAY we look at efforts to develop and improve the skills of journalists in Vanuatu, as part as the fight against corruption, both in the private and public sectors.

In the country's capital Port Vila last week, a media-training workshop was held.

The workshop's title was "Access to Information, Laws and Ethical Standards in Political Reporting," and it was designed to examine a number of areas of journalism which related directly to issues of governance.

And one area of focus was the many ethical dilemmas faced by political reporters working in the country.

The workshop also discussed ways of dealing with the government, cultural taboos and corruption.

The workshop was organised by Transparency International Vanuatu and attended by journalists, politicians and civil society groups.

In today's Media Mat, Caroline Tiriman speaks with several people central to the workshop.

First up is Moses Stevens, president of the Media Association Blong Vanuatu; Dr David Robie is associate professor with the School of Communications at Auckland University of Technology; and Marie Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson is president of the Vanuatu chapter of Transparency International.