WORKSHOP RECAP
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YOUNG PACIFIC LEADERS REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON MEDIA LITERACY AND JOURNALISM
SEPTEMBER 11-13 2024, TONGA
EVENT GALLERY
ASSIGNMENTS FOLLOW UP
Sincere Malo ‘Aupito and Thank You to all of our September 2024 Participants for the YPL Regional Workshop on Media Literacy and Journalism in Nuku ‘Alofa, Tonga.
Please find your follow up activities after the workshop that we hope help you continue to connect with your fellow Young Pacific Leaders and community members!
Storytelling Assignment: “Voices of My Community”
Skill Focus: Interviewing, video/audio storytelling, journalism fundamentals
Task: Create a short video (2–3 minutes) or audio piece where you interview an elder, activist, youth, or community member about a climate-related issue affecting your community (e.g., coastal erosion, traditional knowledge, migration, fishing). Focus on:
Asking open-ended questions
Practicing journalistic ethics (informed consent, respect)
Including compelling visuals or ambient audio (if applicable)
Deliverable: A published piece (YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok) with a short caption summary.
Photo Essay: “Change in Motion”
Skill Focus: Visual storytelling, composition, photo editing, caption writing
Task: Document a local environmental or cultural change through a series of 5–10 photos (DSLR or Mobile) with detailed captions. Think about:
Telling a cohesive story through visuals
Respecting privacy and dignity
Including one photo that symbolizes “resilience”
Cover a range of photo techniques from portrait, to wide landscape, action, and tightly cropped details
Deliverable: A PDF, group of photos, or social media-ready carousel post with your photos and captions.
Written Article: “Climate on the Ground”
Skill Focus: Research, journalistic writing, narrative structure
Task: Write a 500–800 word article about a climate-related story in your region. It can be a profile, news report, or opinion piece. Include:
At least one quote from a source
A compelling lead and clear structure
Contextual background and solutions-focus if possible
Deliverable: Article ready for publication in a blog, youth media outlet, or local paper.
Social Media Campaign Mockup: “Tell Your Climate Story”
Skill Focus: Strategic messaging, social media design, audience engagement
Task: Design a 3–5 post campaign (Instagram or TikTok style) that educates or inspires others around a Pacific Island climate issue. Include:
A call to action
Visual content (reels, graphics, or animations)
Hashtags and captions crafted for engagement
Deliverable: Slides or a storyboard of the campaign, with mock visuals and captions.
Media Literacy Challenge: “Spot the Bias”
Skill Focus: Critical thinking, media analysis, fact-checking
Task: Choose a recent piece of climate news or viral social media post. Analyze it for:
Accuracy vs misinformation
Bias or framing
Source reliability
Write a 300-word reflection or make a 60-second video explaining what you found and what others should watch out for when consuming climate news.
Collaborative Project: “Pacific Youth Voices Collective”
Skill Focus: Collaboration, digital tools, multi-format storytelling
Task:Team up with 2–3 other participants from the workshop to create a multimedia project (mix of video, text, or photo) telling a shared or comparative climate story across your islands.
Use a shared platform (Google Docs, Canva, or Frame.io)
Practice co-writing, shared editing, and feedback
Decide on a final “package” (zine, blog series, short doc)
Deliverable: One complete, co-authored project and a short reflection from each team member on what they learned from collaborating.