NBC hosts major Pacific media conference in Port Moresby

The National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] will host the 16th Pacific Media Partnership Conference in Port Moresby this week, bringing together media professionals from Pacific and Asia countries.

The two-day event, widely regarded as one of the world's largest broadcasting gatherings, begins tomorrow at APEC Haus.

This year's theme is Resilient Voices: Empowering Blue Pacific Media.NBC is hosting the conference with support from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union [ABU].

NBC deputy managing director Michael Samuga said regional leaders would focus on forward-looking strategies rather than just discussing existing challenges.

"Key amongst them is the CEO panel, and that comprises chief executives of Pacific broadcasters," Samuga said. "They will discuss... more of looking forward and what are the areas that Pacific media can collaborate in strengthening our storytelling in the region and to the world."

Samuga said the conference would conclude with a joint communiqué outlining action items and future plans for regional media cooperation.

ABU head of radio Andrew Davies said holding face-to-face discussions was critical given the vast geographical distances between Pacific island nations.

Davies said this year's sessions would tackle heavy-hitting issues, from safety in journalism to financial sustainability and joint content creation.

"This year the focus is very much going to be on some key topics about covering challenging topics particularly for journalists, but also through to topics like monetisation," he said.

"But also things about partnerships and co-productions and how Pacific media across the ABU membership can work together more closely, whether that's in sport or in news."

The conference will officially open with remarks from NBC managing director Kora Nou, ABU secretary-general Ahmed Nadeem, and members of the NBC board.

31 international delegates have travelled from Tuvalu, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Australia and New Zealand to attend.

They will be joined by 110 local participants from Papua New Guinea's media and public relations sectors.The conference runs from June 2 to June 3.