Time to sharpen African climate journalism

AN INNOVATIVE reporting course for young scientists and environmental writers looks set to examine Durban’s preparedness for future flood catastrophes and spark other investigations.

Also under the spotlight is illegal sand mining gouging the Wild Coast, dying coral reefs off the East African coastline, and the effectiveness the isimangaliso Wetland Park and other MARINE PROTECTED AREAS -0!S AS TOOLS for maintaining and restoring ecosystem resilience to climate change impacts.

4HESE ARE AMONG TOPICS OF A WEEK Roving Reporters investigative journalism training course that will help young environmental writers, including marine scientists, produce a series of high-quality, factual, and engaging stories that reveal the impact of climate change on coastal communities, while exploring solutions.

“We are particularly interested in stories anchored in credible evidence that explain how and why key responses to climate change impacts are working, or not working,” said Roving Reporters director, Fred Kockott.

“Government is right: climate change is here,” said climate reporter, -IKE ,OEWE H"UT IS THE STATE DOING what it should to protect society and the environment from climate shocks?”

“There is a disturbing disconnect between propaganda and reality in South Africa. Can a corrupt politician or business person be trusted to do the right thing? Or is it up to communities to work it out for themselves, to adapt, to prepare or take action when the next STORM HITS v ASKED ,OEWE

,OEWE IS AMONG TEAM EDITORS AND writing mentors on the Roving Reporters online training course: At the frontlines of climate change.

The coastal resilience reporting project starts mid July, with five reporting teams doing fieldwork and research on various topics, including efforts to build resilience to climate change in coastal communities and lessons learned from the recent Kwazulu-natal flood catastrophe.

The training will be complemented by presentations from seasoned media professionals, climate change scientists, environmentalists, and land-use experts.

“The expert presenters will help build climate change knowledge,” said course convenor Dominic Naidoo.

Among opening guest presenters is Anton Harber, director of the Henry Nxumalo Foundation, which awards investigative journalism grants.

Naidoo said that in addition to working on stories, selected candidates would be expected to put in up to four hours a week on course activities on the agency’s Ocean Watch learning hub, the story craft teaching modules, and reviewing and discussing the reporting teams’ stories.

This latest Roving Reporters training project is an offshoot of the agency’s

BIODIVERSITY REPORTING PROJECT 3Upported by Earth Journalism Network, 2OVING 2EPORTERS MENTORED YOUNG WRITERS WHO COLLECTIVELY PRODUCED stories covering a wide range of topics related to the loss of biodiversity and the need to balance human needs with environmental integrity.

Preference will be given to youth, women and indigenous people already working in the environmental sector. While previous journalism experience is not essential, candidates should have good writing skills, said Naidoo.

Application forms are available at www.rovingreporters.co.za.