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Getting the message across on climate change
In this context, the media and journalists play a key role. They must disseminate the scientific knowledge available to us to explain the changes occurring and inform people about the environmental, social, economic, political and technological challenges of global warming. By relaying the stories of climate change victims, they raise public awareness and make government authorities face up to their responsibilities. They can also share success stories, about men and women and communities developing creative solutions to deal with global warming and learning to benefit from traditional knowledge to limit the effects of disturbances.
Getting the Message Across
Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: A Handbook for Journalists
In 2018, UNESCO published a handbook for journalists in the Asia-Pacific region: Getting the Message Across. Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.
The handbook is designed to help journalists in the Asia-Pacific region to better understand and communicate climate change issues to the public.
As part of this effort, UNESCO organized a capacity-building workshop for journalists entitled ‘Getting the Message Across on Climate Change’ from 7 to 12 October 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Funds-in-Trust and the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).
Twenty-two radio and print journalists had the opportunity to visit various natural, agricultural and tourist sites in the Kuala Selangor region affected by global warming. They interviewed farmers, tourism professionals and experts on the environment and food security. They produced TV and radio reports, edited them when they returned to Kuala Lumpur and analysed them together during the workshop. At the end of the training, the journalists were able to share their experience with the media in their respective countries, adapt the reports to the local context and broadcast them on various channels. All had the same goal: to get the message across on climate change
