Media21 - Climate Change Reporting: Understanding Solutions

•Written by The Editors• ••Tuesday•, 20 •November• 2007 22:32•

Geneva

The Geneva-based Media21 Global Journalism Network Initiative has launched its second climate change workshop in Geneva (19025 November, 2007) with some 30 editors, reporters and producers from different parts of the world. This is part of Media21’s ongoing effort to improve the reporting of key global issues, such as peacekeeping, health threats, and migration, by helping local and regional journalists broaden their perspectives as well as their access to key players. Experienced international journalists and foreign correrspondents also regularly take part in these practically-oriented workshops, which encourage experience sharing amongst the participants.

The Geneva-based Media21 Global Journalism Network Initiative has launched its second climate change media workshop in Geneva (19025 November, 2007) with some 30 editors, reporters and producers from different parts of the world.

This is part of Media21’s ongoing effort to improve the reporting of key global issues, such as peacekeeping, health threats, and migration, by helping local and regional journalists broaden their perspectives as well as their access to key players. Experienced international journalists and foreign correrspondents also regularly take part in these practically-oriented workshops, which encourage experience sharing amongst the participants.

The week-long climate change gathering (“Understanding Solutions”), which consists of a series of roundtables plus a field trip to the Jura Mountains, has also brought in some 30 experts representing international aid agencies based in Geneva, Switzerland and elsewhere. These include the UN’s World Meteorological Organizations or the Mountain Research Initiative, but also Geneva and Lausanne universities, the private sector (Shell, Suez, EOS…) and other media groups (Pulitzer Center for International Crisis Reporting, AlertNet, Center for Investigative Reporting…)

The Media21 workshop has been specifically designed to coincide with the November 27 launch of UNDP’s Human Development Report, which this year focuses on climate change – and solutions. The journalist gathering also serves as a primer for the international Climate Change summit in Bali in December.

The Media21 initiative, which was established by the InfoSud newsagency and includes the already well-established Human Rights Tribune, seeks to work in partnership with a broad array of partners, whether donor governments, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector, academic institutions, and other media organizations.

While both interest and sponsorship are growing, however, it remains an uphill struggle. Numerous organizations, including governments, still fail to grasp the importance of independent and credible media as one of the most effective ways to promote greater accountability and transparency in the public interest. Media, too, are crucial for creating better awareness of key global issues. The Essential Edge is a Media21 partner.

If you or your organization wish to become involved or wish to support the Media21 initiative, please checkout: www.media21geneva.org