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Launch of New Programme to Improve Climate Change Journalism

2021-09-28. Today, on World News Day, WAN-IFRA and Temasek Foundation have launched a new programme to strengthen climate change journalism. Targeting journalists and editors from Asia, the training programme will build the capability of newsrooms to increase solutions-oriented reporting.

by Vincent Peyrègne vincent.peyregne@wan-ifra.org | September 28, 2021

Climate change is an urgent and big issue for all society. For journalists, it brings particular challenges. Beyond the need to provide the public with information and analysis that is scientifically sound and accurate, journalists need to ensure their coverage is engaging, independent of vested interests and conveys the human story. They must also avoid being cast as doomsday prophets, and balance climate change’s real risks and threats with stories of hope and solutions.

The Temasek Foundation – WAN-IFRA Journalism Programme seeks to equip newsrooms with capability on science reporting, specifically fresh knowledge, tools and techniques, to improve their coverage of issues impacting our warming planet. Supported by Temasek Foundation, the programme focuses on solutions oriented journalism and making climate challenges and solutions relevant to everyday audiences.

Targeting journalists and editors from Asia, the virtual programme consists of a six-module workshop training to address the central challenges surrounding reporting on the climate crisis and other environmental and sustainability related issues. They will participate in workshops to understand the science of climate change, storytelling techniques, how to engage the audience, and navigate misinformation and spin. This will help participants develop a personal toolkit of skills and knowledge, and contribute back to their respective newsroom’s efforts to uphold public trust, as well as to their communities on the debate on our future well-being and sustainability.

Held in September and October 2021, the first run of the programme training has attracted the participation of close to 50 journalists from 11 countries, from across South Asia and the Asia Pacific region.

Under the programme, a newsroom handbook to help journalists enrich their coverage of climate change will be published in November and shared with newsrooms worldwide. In addition, a Global eSummit with a focus on journalism and the climate change story will be held in February 2022 to share best practices among newsrooms.

Warren Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Press Holdings and current President of the World Editors Forum, within WAN-IFRA, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic will eventually pass, but we will then face an even bigger challenge in global climate change. To help audiences make sense of the changes around them, from ever more extreme weather patterns to new green technologies and sustainable business approaches, journalists will need a good grasp of the climate crisis, and the skills to tell this story in a compelling way. That is what this programme will help them do.”

Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive, Temasek Foundation International, said: “It is vital for communities to have access to information and the science underpinning this so that they can work collaboratively to address the issue of climate change. We hope that through this programme, newsrooms can translate multifaceted and complex global sustainability issues into readily understandable insights and information for the communities they serve. We look forward to more impactful stories from our journalists that will support the community response in climate action.


Contacts and Inquiries

Joon-Nie Lau, Director Asia, WAN-IFRA Asia Pacific | joon-nie.lau@wan-ifra.org | Tel: +65 6562-8440.

Joshua Wong, Temasek Foundation | joshuawong@temasekfoundation.org.sg | Mobile: +65 8180 0741

ABOUT WAN-IFRA. The World Association of News Publishers, or WAN-IFRA, is the global organisation of the world’s press. Our mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. We provide our members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. WAN-IFRA derives its authority from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 60 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries.  wan-ifra.org

ABOUT THE WORLD EDITORS FORUM. WEF is the leading WAN-IFRA’s network for editors news organisations around the world. It is built on a commitment to defend press freedom and promote editorial excellence. It was established around two decades ago and has since built up a network of editors around the world who focus on building the capacity of newsrooms through training, innovative practices, conferences and sharing of experiences. It is part of WAN-IFRA – the global organisation of the world’s press.

ABOUT TEMASEK FOUNDATION. Temasek Foundation supports programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. We aim to strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and enhance regional capabilities, and advance science and nature for a sustainable world.temasekfoundation.org.sg

Vincent Peyrègne

Vincent Peyrègne took up duties as Chief Executive Officer of WAN-IFRA in 2012. Prior to joining WAN-IFRA, he was Head of Development at Edipresse in Switzerland (now Tamedia) with responsibility for audience insights, editorial marketing research and product development, before joining the office of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

vincent.peyregne@wan-ifra.org

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