Overview:
Pacific media professionals from seven island nations, including Palau, gathered in Fiji for a workshop on digital-first journalism, exploring how audience analytics, search engine optimization and mobile-friendly content can help newsrooms reach more readers and strengthen their long-term sustainability. TMC Palau’s Ngewakl Soaladaob plans to apply the lessons to the newsroom’s digital strategy.
By: Ngewakl Soaladaob
SAVUSAVU, Fiji (Sept. 2026) – Journalists and media professionals from seven Pacific nations gathered in Savusavu, Fiji, for a two-day workshop focused on helping newsrooms adapt to changing digital audiences.
The PACMAS Digital Accelerator workshop, held Sept. 21-22, brought together media professionals from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Palau to explore digital-first approaches to journalism.
The workshop was held ahead of the 8th Pacific Islands News Association Summit and aligned with the summit’s theme, “Reaching the Remote: Media and Digital Innovation for a Connected Blue Pacific.”
Participants worked with facilitators from ABC International Development on practical strategies for transforming newsroom operations and improving how news organizations reach audiences online.
Training covered audience analytics, search engine optimization, social media, mobile-first content and digital media sustainability.
Sessions on audience analytics focused on using data to understand how audiences interact with content and to help guide editorial decisions.
Participants also discussed search engine optimization and social media, including how news organizations can reach audiences as younger people increasingly use social media platforms to find information.
Mobile-first sessions focused on designing stories, headlines and visuals for audiences accessing news through mobile devices. The workshop also addressed strategies for generating revenue from digital media and improving the long-term sustainability of media organizations.
TMC Palau’s Ngewakl Soaladaob, who participated in the workshop, said he wanted to improve his use of audience data in newsroom decision-making.
“I would like to improve my understanding of audience analytics and how to use data to guide editorial decisions,” Soaladaob said.
He plans to apply lessons from the workshop to TMC Palau’s newsroom strategy, particularly its production and distribution of content across digital platforms.
The workshop also gave participants an opportunity to share experiences and develop connections with media professionals facing similar challenges across the region.
Facilitators James Maasdorp, Grant Sherlock and Daniela Pizzirani offered participants continued mentorship after the workshop as they work to implement digital strategies in their respective newsrooms.
“It has been a great workshop. I am excited to bring these ideas back to Palau and implement them at TMC as well as share them with our media council partners,” Soaladaob said.