SOROTI, August 14, 2024 – Journalists operating in Teso Subregion have been trained in telling climate change stories better so that they can cause action from the concerned stakeholders.
The training was enabled by Community Integrated Initiative for Development [CIDI], a local nongovernmental organisation, with a call to reporters to give their stories a human face so that they are more appealing, and easy to understand.
Climate Change, according to the United Nations, is a long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural due to the changes in the suns’ activity or large volcanic eruption. But since 1800s human activities have been the main driver of climate change primarily due to burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Addressing the trainees, Anna Sophia Asingo, CIDI Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, said the main objective of the training held in Soroti City days ago was to equip journalists with knowledge about climate change reporting in an effort to advance climate change awareness in Teso Subegion.
Asingo explained that Sustainable Environmental Agro Solution [SEAS] Project funded the training, adding that SEAS Project is being implemented in the sub-counties of Soroti, Asuret, Gweri, Tubur, Kamuda, Katine and Arapai among others.
She added that the SEAS Project supports 14 farmers field environmental learning groups [FFELGs] comprising 30 members each. The focus of these groups is to enhancing climate resilience by advocating for environmental conservation, and food and nutrition security.
“Much as we have been working with farmers, the youth and local leaders, we have realised that it is very important to have the media involved in a fight against climate change,” said Asingo.
She explained that the media plays an integral role in shaping public opinion, influencing behaviour and attitudes, spreading awareness and sharping knowledge on climate change.
Also speaking during the training, Andrew Samuel Opio, Project Manager SEAS Project, asserted that Uganda’s diverse ecosystem and communities are vulnerable to climate change, calling upon the media help raise awareness about the need to conserve the environment.
“Media plays a significant role in advocating for local action and solutions to combat climate change,” said Opio.
He urged the media to hold leaders and public officials accountable when it comes to addressing climate change.
Meanwhile, Julius Esegu, an environmental advocate and a trainer urged journalists to put a human face to the climate change stories they tell so that they cause action from relevant stakeholders.
“It is imperative that we [journalists] place local communities/people at the heart of our stories by letting them to speak about matters affecting them, such as effects of climate change on their livelihoods,” said Esegu.
He further said that climate change reporting requires more than just the ability to cover, convey information. He said it demands understanding of the indigenous, scientific and political dimensions about the subject matter.
He urged journalists to fight misinformation and disinformation, and ensure that the public receives accurate and high-quality information on climate change issues.
He also challenged journalists to utilise data visualisation, saying it adds value to their stories. “There is a need for sourcing data to support the same and articles should be factual and timely,” he said.
However, the participants urged CIDI to facilitate journalists to cover climate change related stories. They said that covering climate change feature stories require a lot of resources and time, a reason why most journalists have shied away from reporting on the matter.
They also urged government agencies to do away with protocol and bureaucracy, and ease access to information regarding climate change.
Other participants who attended the training included; musicians, community development officers, teachers, and political leaders.
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