5th December, 2011

Graduates of the Communication Arts (journalism) program at Divine Word University (DWU) launched a professional association to assist them with their professional development as communicators recently.

 The graduates who work in various capacities as communication professionals in different organizations including the mainstream mass media, launched the Communications Arts Professionals Association (CAPA) during its inaugural conference on the 3rd to 4th of November, 2011 at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby.

DWU President Fr Jan Czuba was accorded the honour to open the conference titled “Communicating to an Audience” where he delivered a challenging message calling on communicators to disseminate information in a timely manner and avoid creating anxiety in the public.

The President gave an example by sharing his experience in dealing with the Airlines of PNG Dash 8 plane crash in Madang on the 13th of October, 2011 which killed 28 people, in which 11 were family members of six students of DWU.

Fr Czuba shared his experience on how he responded as the President of the university, the response of the overseas and local media and how the Airlines of PNG responded.

He emphasised on the crucial role of communicators in responding to a crisis situation in a timely and accurate way and enable control over it.

Fr Czuba advised the participants that it is very important for a communicator to know his audience well before communicating a message. The Conference saw up to 30 communications professionals from different organizations in government and private sectors who gathered to share their challenges and successes in their respective duties as communicators through occupations such as public relations officer, community affairs officer, marketer and journalist.

Found president of CAPA Jaive Smare expressed his gratitude towards the speakers and participants. Smare added that this was the first conference of its kind and it will be staged annually.

Speakers at the conference included communication professionals from the organizations. Among the organizations represent4ed included Mineral Resource Authority, Tourism Promotion Authority, Investment Promotions Authority, Masalai Communications and AusAID among others.

The conference was organized and staged by CAPA, which is made up of Communications Arts graduates from the Divine Word University but it is open to graduates from any communication or related field from other institutes as well.

Fr Jan Czuba (second from right) admiring a gift from the CAPA surrounded by its members Lester Hakalits (on Fr Czuba’s right), Esther Haro, Vavine Vere, Mellisah Fairi, Jaive Smare (back to camera) and Jason Som Kaut	CAPA member, Esther Haro and panelist Michael Wightman from AusAID during the panel discussion.	Michelle Yiprukaman and Beverly Puton, two CA graduates involved in panel discussion.

The CAPA website address is http://capapng.wordpress.com
and is reachable via email: capapng@gmail.com