With so much mention of transparency and accountability under what is heralded as a more democratic form of Government, participants in the 4 day PACMAS Budget Reporting workshop in Tonga were reminded of their key role in helping the public understand h
“Parliamentary debates require us to be on top of it and budget times are even more demanding but it is great to know exactly where to look in the budget and to analyse so we can help explain it better to our audience,” says ‘Uluakimata Moala of Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Jemima Garrett, ABC Radio Australia’s Pacific Economic and Business reporter who is leading the training told the 13 participants that it is their job to be the voices of the people.
“It is sensitive in a small place like Tonga and very hard to even have access to the budget statements but when we got it at the workshop, we learnt where to find answers to some of the questions and how to be better prepared so that I can ask the right questions and really follow up what our listeners are interested in,” explained one participant.
The workshop is extremely relevant with the announcement of Tonga’s biggest budget by the Minister of Finance Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Eke in June 2015.
In light of the recent live broadcasts of Parliamentary debates and the growing trend of more engaging feedback from Tongan audiences, the workshop gives participants the initial skills to report accurately and demystify what was once considered by some as a bland but indispensable document – the budget.
Participants include reporters from various media organisations as well as NGOs, National Reserve Bank of Tonga and the Prime Minister’s Office.
The workshop closes on Friday 31 July.