Three emerging journalists from the Indo-Pacific region (Samoa, Vietnam and Afghanistan) have received prestigious government-funded journalism internships with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Awardees participated in a two-week internship in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with ABC International to hone their journalism skills and develop networks within the media. The internship also enables journalists to build relationships with Australian-based professionals and institutions and provides opportunities to report on aspects of contemporary Australia.

The 2016 John Doherty Asia-Pacific Journalism Internship awardees are Minh Ngan Tran, anchor/producer at the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation and Shukria Jalalzay, freelance journalist and founder of the Afghan Women Coordination and Promotion Organisation.

The 2016 Douglas Gabb Australia Pacific Journalism Internship recipient is Meritiana Oti from Radio 2AP in Samoa.

This year the internships celebrated women's empowerment, which was a key theme of meetings throughout the programs.