Over 50 journalists in Nairobi were among the first group to receive training on reporting climate change in a series of efforts to enhance effective, accurate and impactful climate change reporting in Kenya.
Meaningful reporting on the impacts of climate change can help our communities and businesses in Kenya better understand and prepare for the challenges they face leading to enhanced resilience and adaptation at the local level. You also can influence public opinion and policy decision on climate change,
Festus Ngeno
A long-term program to empower Kenyan journalists’ report on climate related issues has been launched in Kenya. The series of activities that include skills training is among strategies by the government to enable informed and effective journalism on climate change.
This comes amidst growing environmental challenges triggered by climate change in the country that remain under reported and whose impact is not magnified by the media.
CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTING- KENYA IN PROJECT WITH JOURNALISTS TO ENHANCE COVERAGE\
The inaugural training spearheaded by Kenyas state department for environment and climate change in partnership with GIZ and the Kenya Editors Guild,was launched in Nairobi and will extend to other major counties.
Addressing journalists at its launch the Principal Secretary in the department Festus Ngeno called on the media to ignite conversations and advocate for local action and climate solutions.
“Meaningful reporting on the impacts of climate change can help our communities and businesses in Kenya better understand and prepare for the challenges they face leading to enhanced resilience and adaptation at the local level. You also can influence public opinion and policy decision on climate change,” the PS said.
Over 50 journalists drawn from broadcast, print and digital platforms were guided on how to explore impactful story telling techniques, explored gaps in climate change reporting and proposed solutions towards mainstreaming climate change reporting in journalism schools and in media houses.
The Lead Trainer, a research scientist Dr John Recha exposed the trainees to the six-sector approach in covering climate change. “Agriculture remains the highest contributor of emissions with livestock contributing high levels of methane gas. We need to break the numbers and humanize data in telling climate stories that resonate with the audience,” he said.
Dr John Recha
Kenya Editors Guild Executive Director Rosalia Omungo said journalists need the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of climate reporting. She challenged trainees to seek networking opportunities with agencies advancing the climate agenda for grants and support in covering climate change stories.
She said KEG will patner with training institutions offering journalism to incorporate climate change reporting in the curricular.
GIZ a key partner in the training program, supports partner countries in strengthening their adaptation capacity to increase their resilience. GIZ Development Communication expert Kennedy Ouma said the next training will be held in Kisumu and later spread to other major counties.