Students fighting graft trained to use media

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
ABOUT 20 tertiary students at a workshop in Port Moresby have been urged to use their media skills to fight corruption in the country.  
Transparency International Papua New Guinea, through its affiliated body Youths Against Corruption Association (YACA), conducted the Media Smart Youth workshop for student members from eight schools last week.
The students were taught basic media skills and how to use the media in their awareness campaigns against corruption. 
Transparency chairman Lawrence Stephens challenged the participants to speak out against corruption and to help develop leadership roles among their peers. 
The participants graduated with certificates last Friday, having attained basic skills in writing press releases, photography, television and radio scripting, developing blog sites and organising press conferences.
Stephens said PNG was ranked among the worst corrupt countries in the world and that contributed to a low level of development.
He said the onus was on the people, the government and private sector to work together to promote good governance.
“The youth is one sector of the population that can be influential in creating awareness about the effects of corruption,” he said.
The workshop aimed to teach YACA members the skills to work with the media in effective corruption awareness, empower youths in making active choices against corruption and build strong partnership with the people, government and partners. 
Founder Fr John Glinn told the students that there was no better way to curb corruption in society than for young people to take the lead in awareness exercises and to stand up for what was right. 
The participants were able to produce
a newsletter, newspaper, radio jingle and blog site.
YACA is run by youths who are committed to the fight against corruption. It has 147 members in tertiary institutes in Port Moresby and Lae and plans to expand to church and community youth groups. 
This year’s Sir Anthony Siaguru Walk Against Corruption in Port Moresby is off to a great start, with 44 corporate, three civil society and 35 school teams registered.
The organisations have pledged K96,100 to help Transparency’s  anti-corruption fight in the country.
The walk will be led by patron Dame Carol Kidu and will be held in Kokopo, Kimbe, Madang, Alotau, Kavieng and Lihir.