Asia Pacific journalists study economic issues and reporting September-October 2008, Australia

The goal of this five-week leadership program run by the APJC in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney was to improve the capacity of news media in the Asia Pacific region better report international trade and economic affairs. Ten journalists identified as leaders or future leaders in their profession attended the program. Three came from Indonesia (Papua Province and Ambon), two from PNG, and one each from Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, The Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji. The program was funded by AusAID as part of its Australian Leadership Awards (ALA). The broad aim was to give the journalists a better understanding of the business, finance and economic fields and to share reporting skills and insights that they can apply in their countries. The program consisted of a one-week leadership workshop, a two-week master class on Reporting Economic Affairs, professional visits to financial, business, media and other institutions in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and news media attachments.. Highlights included briefings at the Reserve Bank, the National Museum, the Australian Consumer Association, the National Indigenous Times, the Canberra Times, the Eureka Report, the National Gallery of Australia and by representatives of the World Bank Men’s Development Agency and the International Women’s Development Agency, Leader Newspapers, The Age business section, Leadership Victoria, the Australian Trade Commission, the Foundation for Development Cooperation and the Australian Labor Party. Senior Australian journalists acted as mentors to the visiting journalists, accompanied them on professional visits and facilitated discussions. Project work focused on analysing economic issues affecting the countries of program participants and on common regional issues. Journalism fellows: Ms Angela Flassy, reporter, Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua Province, Indonesia Ms Insany Syahbarwaty, journalist, Sun Television Network, Ambon, the Maluku Islands, Indonesia Mr Radot Gurning, reporter and commentator, KBR 68H Radio, Baik, Papua Province, Indonesia Ms Anabella De Costa Cortereal, senior journalist, Radio Television Timor-Leste (RTTL), Dili, East Timor Mr Yehiura Hriehwazi, supplements manager, The National newspaper, Port Moresby, PNG Mr Michael Asagoni, chief political reporter, National Broadcasting Corporation, Port Moresby, PNG Mr Ednal Palmer, chief reporter, Solomon Star and PAOA FM, Honiara, Solomon Islands Miss Telesia Adams, senior reporter, Times of Tonga, Nuku’alofa, Tonga Ms Lilly-rose Welwel, reporter and broadcaster, Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, Port Vila, Vanuatu Mr Leone Cabenatabua, editor, Fiji Sun, Suva, Fiji Instructors, journalist mentors and support staff were: Ms Suzy Woodhouse, former journalist and leadership instructor Dr Nigel McCarthy, senior journalist and lecturer Mr John Tidey, former senior editorial executive, The Age Mr Jack Waterford, editor-at-large, Canberra Times Ms Helen Musa, senior journalist and Indonesian interpreter Mr Greg Burchall, freelance journalist and journalism lecturer, VUT Mr Torrey Orton, psychologist Ms Whitney, presenter, Business Today, Australia Network Ms Jessica Mahar, Political Reporter, Fairfax Community Newspapers Mr John Wallace, program director, APJC Ms Alex Kennedy, project officer, APJC Ms Putri Ayu Sari, Indonesian interpreter Mr Yudo Baskoro, Indonesian interpreter The following Australian individuals and organisations and individuals contributed sessions to the program: Mr Ian Campbell, financial accountant of finance and retail, National Museum Ms Elise Davidson, media officer, Australian Consumer Association Mr Dennis Grant, director of public affairs, National Museum Mr Chris Graham, editor, National Indigenous Times Mr Tim Harcourt, chief economist, Australian Trade Commission Mr Masud Isa, senior private sector development specialist, The Foundation for Development Cooperation Mr James Kirby, editor, Eureka Report Mr Dino Kusnadi, first secretary/ spokesperson, Embassy of Ms Manjula Luthria, senior economist, Pacific region, The World Bank men’s Development Agency Mr Bob McMullan, parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, Australian Labor Party Mr Peter Naumann, head of education, National Gallery of Australia Mr David Orsmond, deputy head of economic analysis, Reserve Bank Nick Richardson, group news editor, Leader Newspapers Ms Carole Shaw, Senior Manager, International Women’s Development Agency Mr Michael Short, editor of The Age business section Ms Margaret Wyrill, SkillsBank Co-ordinator, Leadership Victoria Ms Peta Yoshinaga, news journalist, Australian Consumer Association Mr Christopher Zinn, spokesperson, Australian Consumer Association The following international organisations helped the APJC with the program: Pantau Foundation [Indonesian journalism training foundation] Timor-Leste Journalists Association (TLJA) Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Michael Asagoni “Nigel McCarthy’s workshop on Reporting Trade, Business and Economic issues was outstanding, well simplified and practical. The reflection of specific guest speakers was another superb part of this program.” - Michael Asagoni, chief political reporter, National Broadcasting Corporation, PNG Telesia Adams “The first week with Suzy Woodhouse was very interesting, I learnt about being assertive and I discovered more about myself. I also got to know my fellows and understand them.” - Telesia Adams, senior reporter, Times of Tonga, Tonga Yehiura Hriehwazi “Many of our reporters are young and need a lot of exposure to broaden their mind and outlook. Specialist training in economic reporting is something that journalists in PNG shy away from but with good encouragement and help, they will become confident and perform to expectations with a good grasp of the economic terminology and understanding of their use.” - Yehiura Hriehwazi, supplements manager, The National newspaper, Port Moresby, PNG Anabella De Costa Cortereal “It was very helpful to be here as part of this program. It will be very helpful as it has improved my knowledge as a journalist on reporting stories about economic and trade affairs in my country. For me it was a very interesting program to learn about Australia and other countries. ” – Anabella De Costa Cortereal, senior journalist, Radio Television Timor-Leste (RTTL), Dili