The Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea and regional organisations, has launched a Media Engagement Programme to bring Pacific journalists to the 6th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (PRETMM6) in Port Moresby from 4–8 May 2026. The announcement confirms a focused effort to bolster Pacific-led reporting on energy security, maritime transport and climate resilience as ministers, technical experts and development partners gather under the theme “Scaling Connectivity for a Prosperous Blue Pacific.”
The programme will support four regional journalists to attend PRETMM6 and provides a series of preparatory and in‑country activities designed to deepen reporting capacity. Organisers say the package includes a regional online pre-briefing, an in-person Media Masterclass in Port Moresby, site visits to showcase energy and maritime initiatives, plus access to open ministerial sessions and daily briefings during the meeting. Journalists, media organisations and freelancers from across the Pacific are eligible to submit Expressions of Interest by 17 April 2026.
A notable feature of the support is a NZD 5,000 storytelling grant for each selected journalist, to be delivered through a partnership with Pacifica Television. SPC said the grants are intended to fund in-country reporting projects that spotlight community realities and the local impacts of energy and maritime policy, rather than just technical or ministerial proceedings. The grants aim to produce reporting that connects regional policy discussion to everyday life across Pacific islands and coastal communities.
PRETMM6 is being framed as a strategic moment for the region ahead of COP31, with organisers highlighting that decisions and dialogue on energy systems, shipping connectivity and climate resilience will have direct consequences for Pacific livelihoods and economies. By embedding journalists in both technical briefings and site visits, SPC and partners aim to promote accurate, inclusive and locally grounded storytelling on issues that will feature prominently in climate and development discussions later this year.
The Media Engagement Programme follows wider calls across the region for stronger, more accountable media participation in regional governance. At recent regional gatherings, media capacity and the importance of a Pacific voice in reporting have been repeatedly emphasised by leaders and media networks, underscoring why organisers are prioritising grant support and training for journalists attending PRETMM6.
Interested applicants are asked to meet the 17 April deadline for Expressions of Interest; selection details and criteria were not disclosed in the announcement. SPC and the Papua New Guinea hosts will likely publish further guidance on selection and logistics as the meeting approaches. The initiative represents a targeted effort to ensure Pacific media can cover the outcomes of PRETMM6 with depth and local relevance, feeding into broader regional narratives on connectivity, energy transition and maritime transport reform.
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