REPORTERS from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) have participated in an accountability journalism training, using the opportunity to reflect on their reporting practices and their commitment to credible and responsible journalism.
Eleven staff from the Radio and Television newsroom participated in the session, where discussions focused on identifying weaknesses within the newsroom,
emphasizing the importance of balanced reporting and a robust fact-checking system to build audience trust.
The training was facilitated by Ian Kaukui, who praised the active engagement of participants throughout the session.
“Everyone was involved and participated in the discussions,” Kaukui said. “They showed genuine interest, and through this, they’ve identified many areas that
need improvement in the newsroom.”
He added that the session encouraged meaningful interaction and was a refreshing break from the usual day-to-day newsroom routine.
“It wasn’t just another day at the newsroom, it was about interaction, self-assessment, and learning,” he said. “We’re thankful to MASI and Internews for
providing this opportunity.”
Participant and journalist, Alfred Pagepitu, described the training as “vital for Professional growth and accountability.”
“As journalists, we need to be accountable and aware of our weaknesses,” Pagepitu said. “What I’ve learned from this training is very important. Accountability is key in journalism especially because our leaders and the public rely on the information we report.”
He said that strengthening ethical standards in the newsroom starts with acknowledging gaps and learning how to address them.
“When we identify our weaknesses, that’s when we can start to improve. This training helped us better understand our responsibilities and the importance of
ethical reporting.”
The training was supported by the Internews Europe with funding from European Commission in partnership with the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI).
