By Robert Iroga
Australia’s support for the Solomon Islands media sector is long-standing and is now providing support for the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) to get ready for the 2023 Pacific Games in November.
ABC International Development (ABCID) has delivered more training to the SIBC earlier this month which focused on the use of mobile journalism (MoJo) kits.
More than half of the SIBC staff received training from Dave McMeekin, a leading content quality advisor from ABC News in Adelaide, on September 12-16.
The ABC recently distributed MoJo kits to all its locations in Australia so the SIBC staff are now using the best equipment available as preferred by journalists in Australia.
MoJo kits consist of an android phone, microphone, tripod, and other components that allow a single person to capture high-quality audio and video.
The content can be recorded on the phone for later use or sent back to a studio for immediate broadcast.
These kits are designed to be portable and operated by one person.
Setting up, maintenance
During the training sessions, conducted in small groups of four or five SIBC staff members, the focus was on setting up and maintaining the MoJo kits.
In addition, the training included techniques for visual storytelling, which makes it easier to capture short stories in the field.
Practical exercises were carried out on the streets of Honiara, including in the Central Market and the Art Gallery.
Last Saturday, SIBC journalists used the MoJo kits to report on the Solomon Airlines Peace Marathon — putting into practice the training and equipment they will use during the Pacific Games.
As part of the Australian project, managed by ABCID, SIBC will receive two MoJo kits.
SIBC also plans to purchase two additional kits, with one of them being stationed in Gizo.
These four kits will be used by SIBC reporters to file stories leading up to and during the Pacific Games.
The Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands runs from November 19 until December 2.
Robert Iroga is editor of Solomon Business Magazine Online. Republished with permission from SBM Online and Asia Pacific Report.
