In the April 06 issue, a front-page article incorrectly stated that Helena Rois Yoichi-Arurang had served as the Speaker of the 10th Olbiil er a Ngerchumelbai (Airai Legislature) for five terms.

Arurang is currently serving her fifth term as a legislator for the 10th Olbiil er a Ngerchumelbai and on her second term as Speaker. We regret the error.

By Elilai Rengiil

Palau Media Council (PMC) President Leilani Reklai, Australia Ambassador Toby Sharp, Palau National Olympics Committee (PNOC) President Frank Kyota, PNOC Secretary General Baklai Temengil, and PMC Vice President Jill Senior after MOU signing. (Standing) Palau Media Council Officers

Palau’s push to strengthen local media has gained momentum with a new memorandum of understanding between the Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) and the Palau Media Council (PMC), transferringbroadcast equipment to local media practitioners to expand coverage and build capacity.

PMC President Leilani Reklai said the agreement will help address longstanding gaps in coverage, saying, “This partnership will enable us to continue developing media capacity and increase the amount of quality content for news, public interest stories, sports, and other areas that have been undercovered.”

Under the MOU, signed on April 6, PNOC will transfer control and responsibility for specific broadcasting and media equipment to the PMC.

The equipment was first provided through the Australian government’s support for the Daily Highlights Program (DHP), which brought together young reporters and media professionals to cover last year’s Pacific Mini Games for broadcast across the Pacific region.

Australia’s Ambassador Toby Sharp recalled the energy of the media center during the Pacific Mini Games, stating, “Those programs (DHP) that were pushed out to the region really showcased Palau and demonstrated how professional the Palau media sector is.”

Another key partner, the Palau Community College (PCC), have agreed to provide a space for equipment storage and PMC training in media production and technical skills.

PNOC President Frank Kyota discussed the importance of the agreement in enhancing local reporting capacity, saying, “This supports the future planning for a stronger, more responsible, and accountable media center grounded in quality training, professionalism, and transparency.”

The agreement marks a shift from one-off event coverage to long-term support for Palau’s media and the next generation of journalists, helping them deliver timely, useful information to the public.