Workshop boosts digital journalism skills in Vanuatu

April 23, 2025 10:04 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Ezra Toara.

A social media and digital journalism workshop facilitated by BBC Media Action through the Media Association of Vanuatu (MAV) is helping local media practitioners sharpen their digital skills and embrace evolving global trends in media production and content sharing.

The workshop, held at Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT), is designed to empower journalists, communication officers, and content creators with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the fast-paced digital media landscape. Facilitator Moses Cakau emphasised the urgency of embracing the digital age and equipping the media with the right tools.

“With this kind of workshop, it’s about time we bring digital journalism training to the forefront,” said Cakau. “The media industry globally is evolving, technology is evolving, and newsrooms are changing. We must be part of that change. Through BBC Media Action, we’re learning effective and efficient tools relevant in today’s media world to help shape Vanuatu’s media landscape.”

Cakau explained that participants are receiving hands-on training with modern tools such as CapCut and Canva—strategic platforms widely used across global media houses. He noted the importance of ensuring that media professionals, including journalists, writers, and content creators, understand how to use these tools responsibly and ethically.

“We’re not moving away from traditional media,” he added. “Rather, we are preparing and reshaping it for a new era where digital platforms play a central role. Every time we post content—be it an article or a video—we must do so with responsibility.”

MAV President Lillyrose Welwel echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of ethical standards, accountability, and accuracy in digital media.

“Today, many journalists are posting their stories online. We want to stress the importance of ethics and accountability,” Welwel said. “When you make a mistake, you must take responsibility. We must verify our information before sharing, because social media is growing so rapidly that sometimes we lose control.”

Welwel emphasised that journalists and social media administrators have a duty to ensure the accuracy of the information they publish, as misinformation can damage public trust and credibility.

“When a post goes viral, we must ask ourselves if the information is true. If not, it can jeopardise not only our credibility but also the trust the public places in us,” she said.

Jilda Shem, Project Coordinator for BBC Media Action in Vanuatu, said the training is part of the Pacific Media Strengthening Programme, which began last year to support local media efforts across the region.

“This programme is not about replacing what is already being done, but complementing ongoing efforts by other partners and donors,” Shem explained. “We identified key gaps in media practice and sought to provide support, including this training.”

Shem added that a similar training on election reporting was previously scheduled but had to be cancelled due to a natural disaster. However, two representatives from Vanuatu participated in a BBC Media Action social media workshop held in Suva, Fiji, and returned with a commitment to share the knowledge locally.

“The goal of this training is to help social media users and influencers be more responsible in their reporting and ensure that the information they share is factual and ethical,” she said. “Ethics is often missing in the digital space, and this workshop is a step toward addressing that.”

Cakau affirmed that this is just the beginning of a series of workshops planned to expand the reach of digital journalism training to more media professionals across the country.

Welwel concluded by expressing MAV’s gratitude for the partnership with BBC Media Action and affirmed the association’s commitment to continuing such initiatives in the future.

“We hope those who benefit from this training can go on to become trainers themselves,” she said. “Everyone in the media must understand that with every post comes responsibility.”