The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) to commitment to a collaborative relationship.
Signed in Vanuatu’s Port Vila during a recent conference of an Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union’s Pacific Media Partnership, the MOU requires the ABC and VBTC to recognise both organisations’ roles in supporting independent media and contributing to democracy in the Pacific.
The MOU also recognises their value as leading cultural institutions and their shared commitment to serving the public interest through information, education and entertainment
Under the MOU, the ABC and VBTC recognise both organisations’ role in supporting independent media and contributing to democracy in the Pacific, as well as their value as leading cultural institutions and shared commitment to serving the public interest through information, education and entertainment.
The MOU also seeks to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Australia and Vanuatu and builds on a long and robust relationship between ABC and VBTC.
Chief executive of VBTC Francis Herman, VBTC and the ABC are both firmly committed to their public sector media remit to investigate issues of importance to their citizenries and to inform, educate and entertain for the benefit of the people.
“We are delighted that this MOU formalises our ongoing support for one another,” Mr Herman said. “The people to people links we are developing between our organisations will underpin further collaboration to deliver mutual benefits.”
The International Services Head of the ABC,’s Claire M. Gorman said the ABC was proud to partner with VBTC.
“We look forward to deepening our engagement as we continue to invest in our partnership and our people, and we are always looking for shared opportunities to better serve our shared audiences in the region,” Ms Gorman said.
VBTC presently provides FM transmission services to the ABC for the broadcast of ABC Radio Australia in Vanuatu and is developing a pilot local journalism project to foster the creation and sharing of ni-Vanuatu stories.
