Key media stakeholders from both Samoa and American Samoa, representatives from the Government of Samoa and social media influencers from Samoa recently participated in a ‘talanoa’ session to develop awareness on Agritourism and Knowledge Management storytelling techniques ahead of the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum on Monday 29 August, 2016 at the Millenia Hotel.

Apia, Samoa – Key media stakeholders from both Samoa and American Samoa, representatives from the Government of Samoa and social media influencers from Samoa recently participated in a ‘talanoa’ session to develop awareness on Agritourism and Knowledge Management storytelling techniques ahead of the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum on Monday 29 August, 2016 at the Millenia Hotel.

The Media Awareness talanoa was coordinated by the European Union (EU) supported intra-ACP Pacific Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP) implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).  

Agriculture was discussed at great length with participants acknowledging the need to make the sector more appealing in order to promote better media coverage which could be achieved by highlighting partnerships with sectors such as tourism, through Agritourism. Knowledge Management (KM) was also addressed through an interactive group activity where participants were given hypothetical situations in which knowledge needed to be captured and shared in the agricultural context.

Key outcomes emerging from the talanoa included the need to strengthen links between government ministry focal points and press officers with media, improving media access to key evidence based agricultural policy information as well as creating more awareness around available information (such as the existing Pacific Agriculture Policy Banks implemented by the SPC PAPP project), and supporting capacity building of media stakeholders in Samoa through a similar forum, to engage more effectively with the private sector in relevant sectors such as environment, energy, tourism and health.

American Samoa Media Representative and former PINA President, Monica Miller, who coordinated local media attendance, appreciated that the session was ‘laid back yet truthful’. Ms Miller said it gave journalists in the room both senior and junior, the space to discuss thought provoking questions and practices in the area of sharing agricultural information.

The addition of social media influencers from Samoa added to the dynamic discussion and contributed to the overall online social media campaign for the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum as they were able to engage with youth bloggers from Fiji and Tonga who were participating in the media session and forum.

Tongan youth blogger, ‘Aulola Ake said it has been great working with local media and communication experts for the Forum.

“Creating space for talanoa amongst media and having government representatives present gives importance to how and when information is shared. That is the most crucial part of any process -the way information is conveyed to general public,” Ms Ake said.

“I hope that such forums in the future will continue to recognize this significance and utilize such platforms like this one established by SPC and to include not only traditional media but bloggers and social media influencers from the Pacific,” she added.

TV One representative, Jack Seumanutafa applauded the idea of the ‘talanoa’ with media saying “the session was a great idea. The KM aspects of the talanoa session benefitted participants and encouraged them to look deeper into issues discussed at the forum rather than just reporting on the opening.”

SPC hosted the first Pacific Agritourism Week in 2015, which included in its agenda, the first Agribusiness forum. This year’s forum is the first time that Media has been involved in an interactive talanoa session.

The 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum was organised by the Pacific Island Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with the support of the EU, Secretariat ACP, South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Samoa Tourism Authority (STA), SPC, the Samoan Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF).

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