Highlands Based Mainstream Media personnel trained on usage of Social Media for news content

Neville Choi, PNG Media Council President making a point during his presentation on the roles and functions of MCPNG in Mt Hagen during the three days Social Media Training by BBC Media Action and MCPNG. (NBC News)

Mainstream media journalists/reporters based in the Highlands Region underwent a thorough three days training on the usage of social media in their news content.

The training is deemed as essential from the traditional method of gathering, packaging news to different traditional mediums like print [newspaper] and broadcast [radio and television].

The training was held in Mt Hagen for the region that started on June 11th and ended on June 13th, 2025 with presentation of certificates to the journalists and is co-organized by BBC Media Action and the Media Council of Papua New Guinea [MCPNG].

12 Highlands based journalist ( all holding certificates) from NBC, EMTV, Post Courier, The National, FM 100, PNG FM and Trinity FM in a photo shoot after receiving their Certificate of Completion from the three days training posed with Trainers Genesis Ketanand Matthew Vari and PNG Media Council President Neville Choi (seated in the middle). (NBC News)

Mal Taime Post Courier's Senior Reporter based in the Mt Hagen Bureau said the training serves as an eye opener for most of the journalists especially based out of Port Moresby as those in the provinces still practice the traditional journalistic way of collecting and doing news.

"The training is essential in today's digital landscape and will also enhance the journalists ability to reach an audience effectively and responsibly".

"I am happy, satisfied and motivated for this social media training as Mainstream media too faces many challenges in this day and age when it comes to real and fake news on social media that as journalist we had to find and gather facts to iron this misreporting on social media", stressed Mr. Taime.

Trainer Mathew Vari also Post Courier's Digital Editor added social media is now the biggest "beast" Mainstream media journalist will have to deal with and it is important that individual newsroom and journalist must have a good and fair knowledge of the usage of social media and must have a presence in those platforms to inform, educate, and reach out to all audiences unlike the traditional media where certain audiences are targeted," Mr. Vari said.

PNG Media Council President Neville Choi who was present at the closing of the training said the training is vital as the Media Council understands that not all newsroom of news organizations has the capacity and funding to conduct trainings of similar to all their journalist thus the partnership with BBC Media Action for this training has seen a good response coming from the journalists, which is satisfying to see," Choi added.

The three days training includes understanding social media dynamics, content creation for different social media platforms, verification of information, audience engagement, ethics and responsible reporting and social media impact on public perception, tools and resources and crisis management amongst others.

This is the third training that BBC Media Action and the PNG Media Council has conducted whilst the final lag of the training will be held in Kokopo for the New Guinea Islands [NGI] region soon.

Return of PNG Media Council appreciated

**Mal Taime, Post Courier's Mt Hagen based Senior Reporter who has a 20 plus years experience in the main stream media acknowledging the return of PNG Media Council**. (NBC News)

The return of Media Council of Papua New Guinea [MCPNG] is being appreciated especially from the mainstream media personnel in the Highlands Region.

Speaking during the closing of the three days training on usage of Social media in Mt Hagen By BBC Media Action and MC PNG, Mal Taime a Senior Reporter with Post Courier based in Mt Hagen said for so long there has not been any presence of Media Council in PNG.

Mr. Taime added now the return of the media council in PNG is being felt unlike in the past as seen in the current social media training around the country.

"Now we know that there is a media Council that is working and is in effect and whatever we as journalist face in our line of duty we know that we now have a "mother body" in place that can stand up for us."

Also, the President of MC PNG Neville Choi while taking the participants through the roles and functions of Media Council said, having a media Council in place in the country is vital, however, MCPNG has been dormant for the last decade and a half thus it's revival can be seen as something positive for media and communication community in the country.

**Trainer Genesis Ketan (in red dress) going through an activity with this lot of Highlands Region based reporters. (NBC News)**

" The PNG Media Council was revived in 2023 and so far in this short time, the Council has achieved its two main objective and that is the Media Summit and the PNG Media Awards held this year."

" I am proud to say that the Council has already put in place its constitution and by-laws and necessary procedures and the future looks promising for the Council," Choi added.

The Media Council President emphasized strongly for journalists and news creators to uphold their ethics and responsibilities as carriers of facts and always practice honesty, accountability and transparency in their line of duties.