The annual workshop was hosted by OFC at its headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand, from April 29 to May 2 and was attended by Moiz Munif (Fiji), Brian Vitolio (American Samoa), Pauline Dean (Cook Islands), Romain Painbeni (New Caledonia), Jamie Scott (New Zealand), David Kaseng (Papua New Guinea), Joseph Boso (Solomon Islands), Tia Soakai (Tonga) and Harry Atisson (Vanuatu).
The workshop was led by OFC head of media and communications Priscilla Duncan, who was joined by OFC instructors Olivier Huc, Xavier Audu and Daniel Markham.
Duncan says the benefits of hosting such a gathering are two-fold.
“It gives us a chance to hear from all the media officers working for our member associations,” she says.
“It is very beneficial for us to be updated first-hand on their progress and learn of some of the challenges facing them. We can then look at ways of overcoming those challenges and providing the media officers with anything they might need to do their jobs as professionally as possible.
“But it is also a great opportunity for them to learn some new skills and receive advice from experienced people who are leaders in their field.”
Among those giving presentations during the workshop were Sep Cipriano from the FIFA Futbol Mundial television show, SBS Australia journalist Tuipoloa Evan Charlton, ANZ sponsorship manager Kylee Daniel and freelance photographer Shane Wenzlick.
London-based Cipriano was pleased to take advantage of a rare trip to New Zealand by taking part in the workshop and believes the future of football media coverage in the Oceania region looks bright.
“I first came to OFC five years ago and the positive changes that have been made since then prove that things are heading in the right direction,” he says.
Fiji FA media officer Munif says he found the sessions very useful and will now put some of what he has learned into practice in his homeland.
“The workshop was indeed a very successful one and a good learning experience,” Munif says.
“The instructors and consultants discussed interesting topics and shared their experiences with the participants. Their advice will no doubt assist me to further develop the Fiji FA media department.”
The first OFC media workshop was held last year in Auckland and great improvements in the coverage of football across the Pacific have taken place since then. Each of the 11 OFC member associations now have their own websites while print, television and radio coverage has also increased greatly.