First PNG journalists partake in war training

Three Papua New Guinean journalists, including one from the National Broadcasting Corporation, are among twenty-five journalists from Asia and Turkey, undergoing an intensive 2-week War Journalism training workshop in Ankara, Turkey.

In a first, the training was opened up to the Asian region including the Pacific.

The training, in its 30th term since its inception in 2012, started on Monday, 14th to 25th September, and was organized by the Turkish International Co-operation Agency [TIKA] in partnership with the state media agency, Anadolu Agency, and the Turkish police force.

The journalists were issued field gear before attending a small induction ceremony at the Anadolu Agency head office in Ankara.

Its Vice President Oguz Peru, in welcoming the participants, says that with the first-time inclusion of journalists from the Asia and Pacific, a new topic of Asian Geopolitics was also incorporated in the course training.

He added it is very important journalists equip themselves with these vital skills so they're better prepared when covering wars.

He says the theoretical knowledge from the workshop will be practiced in real life at the night camps, which are part of the training.

TIKA Vice President Bugra Aydin says the organization prides itself on this training, a brand in itself, and adding it is a vital skill for journalists in war reporting, with so many wars ongoing around the world.

Aydin called for impartiality, dedication, bravery and for journalists to use this training to create networks for the future.

Deputy Director Police Academy Chief Superintendent Fatih Inal dedicated the program to all journalists who lost their lives while covering wars.

The 12-day workshop will include both theory and practical learning, with day-one focused on war theory and terminologies, Geopolitics in Asia and Pacific, Law of War and Turkish Naval and War operations.