MORE than 20 local journalists have completed the Professional Etiquette and Interview Skills intensive training in preparation for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Honiara next week.
The training held on the 3rd and 4th of September 2025 at the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) office, brought together participants from across print, online, radio, and television media.
Organized by MASI in partnership with the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) and supported by the Australian Government, the training aims to strengthen the quality and professionalism of media coverage during the high-level regional event.
The sessions were facilitated by Richard Davis from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Johnson Honimae, CEO of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC).
Over the course of the training, participants engaged in discussions and practical exercises covering topics such as protocol, professional presence, developing interview questions, and conducting mock interviews.
MASI president, Ofani Eremae thanked the facilitators for lending their time and efforts into making the training a success and expressed his hope of seeing participants are well equipped to cover PIF.
Davis described the training as “highly interactive” with participants willingly engaging in all the mock exercises.
Meanwhile, Radio journalist Alfred Pagepitu from SIBC reflected on the value of the training for his work.
“This training has really equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills, especially in covering the PIF Leaders’ Meeting,” he said.
“As a radio reporter, I’ve learned how to better explain information to our people and ask more relevant and impactful questions, particularly those that address issues affecting people in rural areas across the country.”
Pagepitu added that the techniques and strategies learned will help him not only when interviewing Pacific leaders, but also in engaging with local leaders.
“Asking the right questions is essential, it’s how we serve our audiences and hold our leaders accountable,” he added.
