concept note for pre summit workshop - pacmas

CONCEPT NOTE
COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
MARCH 25-27, 2012
MEDIA CENTRE, PACIFIC COMMUNITY, SUVA, FIJI
BACKGROUND
The Pacific Island News Association holds its annual conference (Pacific Media Summit) every two years – an
event that brings together media practitioners, academics, and representatives of NGOs, development
partners, and governments, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
This year’s Summit is in Fiji from March 26-30 and will focus on the theme “Building a Healthy and Responsible
Pacific Media Culture” and lists its objectives as follows:
Review the present status and trends in media development
Identify and address emerging issues in media development;
Assess opportunities and challenges for future media development; and,
Build consensus on the way forward for the sector as a regional, sustainable and a competitive sector,
contributing to media freedom, professionalism and cooperation.
A total of six Pre-Summit workshops are scheduled for the two days (March 26-27) preceding the Summit
proper (March 28-30). Among them is the PACMAS sponsored Communication for Development workshop
which is held in partnership with PINA and the Pacific Community but will begin one day earlier (25 th ).
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES & PURPOSE
The Pacific Media Assistance Program (PACMAS) is a 10-year commitment by AusAID to contribute to the
development of media in the Pacific region. The goal of PACMAS is to support better governance in the Pacific.
PACMAS seeks to achieve this by supporting the development of diverse, independent and professional media
that promotes informed and meaningful public discourse throughout the region. A free, well functioning and
independent media sector is widely recognised as being critical to promoting better governance which in turn
can improve the quality of development outcomes.
This pre-Summit workshop on Communications for Development aligns with PACMAS goals and objectives as
follows:
• Good or better governance in the region
• Focus on media development and outcomes
• Media Content – research & MDGs plus all other media development issues that will be
discussed/shared
• Media Capacity Development – upgrading knowledge on areas of research and/or MDGs
The expected outcomes of this workshop are:
• Raise greater awareness & understanding of C4D;
• Appreciate the role research can play in piecing together more compelling and relevant content; and,
• Produce either a radio or television production/story on C4D.
Participants will discuss the meaning of Communication for Development and explore the importance the role
of research plays in developing content that is relevant to the audience. They will also discuss the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) and the critical role the media plays in supporting the realization of those goals.

All participants will be grouped into teams and required to undertake a field trip that will conclude in the
compilation of a short radio or television production.
This workshop is a mix of classroom based learning and practical field exercises which requires access to both
television and radio field and studio production equipment. The C4D workshop will be held at the Pacific
Community’s Media Centre in Nabua, Suva where participants will be able to produce their final program.
RESOURCE PERSONS
The resource persons for this workshop are both from ABC International Development who are currently
engaged in development assistance work in the Pacific. They will be assisted by their local counterparts at the
Pacific Community’s Media Centre who bring with them local knowledge and an extensive network of contacts
in the region.
Merana Kitione
Merana is the Team Leader Vois Blong Yumi project in Vanuatu. This role falls under a program of support by
Australia to the Government of Vanuatu (specifically the Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation). In
this role, she works closely with the VBTC team on issues of governance and organisational development;
access via transmission; and content. Merana has worked in content development and delivery/broadcast for
radio and television. She has a strong editorial background, managing News, Current Affairs and
Sports journalists and the programs they produce. From journalism to training and development, she has
overseen and conducted programs from compulsory organisational training to technical and content
development and journalism - covering all aspects of television production.
Amelia Shaw
Amelia is the Multi-Platform Content Advisor (Health, Gender and Education) on ABC-NBC Media for
Development Initiative Project. In this role, Since July 2011 Amelia has worked with the Project to increase its
focus on encouraging the creation of communications for development (C4D) content on the NBC. Amelia has
over nine years field experience producing multi-media materials for use in health outreach campaigns,
training, and in behaviour change communications (BCC) in Africa and the Caribbean. She has a proven track
record directing social marketing campaigns; coordinating communications activities; training youth as peer
educators; and producing innovative multi-media materials in resource-poor settings. Amelia has a social
science background with experience in field research, grassroots communications and capacity building.
PARTICIPANTS
The participants will all be senior journalism students enrolled at the Technical & Vocational Education (TVET)
institutions that were involved in the original phase of PACMAS.
• Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE)
• Tonga Institute of Higher Education (TIHE)
• Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT)
• National University of Samoa (NUS)
• Fiji National University (FNU)
In addition, one participant will each be invited from UPNG, USP and Divine Word Institute. We have also
reserved two places for young journalists from Micronesia.
One of the most important selection criteria is that the students are committed to, and can demonstrate their
interest in working on stories related to the Millennium Development Goals. They will also be required to
complete an evaluation questionnaire at the end of the workshop.

SELECTION PROCESS & KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Nominations will be sought through the networks of both PINA and PACMAS. PACMAS will manage the final
selection of participants and inform the PINA Secretariat.
The institutions referred to above from the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, PNG and Samoa will each be
requested to nominate appropriate students from their institutions. Fiji will be eligible to nominate more
participants given there are no costs involved in airfares and accommodation for the Fiji participants.
The attached nomination form must be properly endorsed by the education institution. In complete
nomination forms will exclude that nominee from consideration.
In finalising the list of participants, PACMAS will consider the following when selecting the students to be
invited to take part in this workshop:
• Demonstrated commitment to C4D and MDG
• Participation in or development of innovative projects for the purpose of social mobilization and
awareness raising;
• Success rate of work done so far and relevant achievements;
• Gender balance;
BURSARY
In the case of participants from outside Fiji, this PACMAS bursary covers return economy air travel through the
most direct route to Suva; accommodation in Fiji (including any overnight stopovers); and a daily stipend to
cover meals and incidentals. All Fiji participants will receive a daily allowance to cover transport and meals.
PACMAS will pay the mandatory Pacific Media Summit registration fee for each participant directly to the PINA
Secretariat. Please note that this bursary does not cover health/travel insurance which is the responsibility of
the participant. Accommodation charges for participants from outside of Fiji will be paid directly to the hotel
while the daily stipend will be paid in one lump sum to each participant on the first day of the workshop.
APPLICATIONS
Applications for this bursary close on Thursday 08 th March 2012. Nominations must be sent to
info@pacmas.org. The final selection will be made on 09 th March 2012 and successful applicants informed
immediately.