Arena for Journalism in Europe’s Post

Trust me to post late but better late than never, right!? Check out my recent blog post on #WorldPressFreedomDay2024 and what this year's theme aims to achieve keeping in mind the current state of our environment and the very real threat to journalists, incorporating gender-responsive approaches to tackling violence against journalists & the right to advocate against disinformation.

Earlier this month, we organised a deep-dive seminar on extreme heat. Nothing could be more topical as schools across South Asia shut down and cities issue 'emergency' heatwave alerts. Newsrooms need to report & protect their teams responsibly. Read more on our key takeaways here. #climate #heat #journalism Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

How can journalists prepare to cover extreme heat events? Here are 7 lessons from experts at a recent event of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. 🥵 Extreme heat is harming our societies and is something we should learn about and prepare for. In many parts of the world, its impact is now arriving with a regularity: for many months of the year, our systems are pushed and stretched. This regularity means journalists can (and should) prepare their coverage in the same way they plan an election, the awards season or the Olympic Games. 👩🏾💻 This year's annual event of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, which we hosted earlier this month with our members, alumni and partners, focused on journalism in the age of extreme heat. Over six hours of programming, we heard from experts and journalists such as Eleni (Lenio) Myrivili, Surella Segú , Omnia El Omrani, MD and Lilys Njeru. It was a space to think about the many dimensions of this issue but also about how to report under demanding conditions. ✍️ A new piece by our colleagues Greg Cochrane, Diego Arguedas Ortiz and Katherine Dunn summarises seven takeaways from the event, from focusing on the health consequences of extreme heat and making sure reporters stay safe to learning from our experience covering COVID-19. A key quote: "We must go to the places and speak to the people affected to bring the story to life," they write. "While ‘heat’ itself is invisible, its effect on humans is not. The stories of extreme heat can be told from homes, health centres and hospitals, but these impacts also extend into almost every other aspect of society. Extreme heat isn’t just for the meteorology desk. It’s part of all beats and desks." Click to read below #climatechange #climatejournalism #globalwarming #extremeheat https://lnkd.in/dXCueQGT

https://lnkd.in/dKquDdaK Consider the following factors in any urban planning for southern cities:

Besides these good pieces of advice, also sharing additional guidance for Journalist that we developed at the Global Heat Health Information Network. 3 extra things to consider: 1) Highlight actions and solutions 2) Acknowledge the unequal impacts of heat 3) Give attention to the indirect health impacts of heat 💡And please please (please) no more pictures of happy people enjoying at a pool or at the beach to depict extreme Heat

I had the honour on May 3rd to give the closing speech at the World Press Freedom Conference (in Santiago, Chile. 🇨🇱), which addressed the pivotal role of the media in tackling climate change and the global environmental crisis. My gratitude to the Chilean Government for hosting this crucial UNESCO event, marking the 30th anniversary of the historic Santiago Declaration, a milestone in advancing freedom of expression and press pluralism in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year's World Press Freedom Day served as a vital platform to emphasise the indispensable role that journalists play in highlighting environmental issues and holding accountable those responsible for ecological harm. Their pursuit of truth comes with significant risks. Over the past 15 years, there were at least 749 attacks against environmental journalists; 44 of these journalists were killed, and only 5 cases of these killings were legally completed. These alarming figures and the unacceptably high impunity rate must end.  Moreover, the proliferation of misinformation poses a serious threat to environmental discourse. False narratives undermine public and political support for climate action, hindering progress toward a sustainable future. Addressing these challenges demands a multifaceted approach. We must uphold the principles of responsibility, transparency and accountability, and ensure that content moderation and curation aligns with international human rights' standards. In light of the complex challenges discussed during last week's Santiago conference, UNESCO will develop a roadmap to combat violence against environmental journalists and address the proliferation of climate disinformation. The roadmap will be launched next year at the COP30 conference in Brazil.  Together, let's work towards a world where truth prevails and our environment is protected for generations to come.

I had the honor to give the closing speech at the World Press Freedom Conference (in Santiago, Chile. 🇨🇱), which addressed the pivotal role of the media in tackling climate change and the global environmental crisis. My gratitude to the Chilean Government for hosting this crucial UNESCO event, marking the 30th anniversary of the historic Santiago Declaration, a milestone in advancing freedom of expression and press pluralism in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year's World Press Freedom Day served as a vital platform to emphasize the indispensable role that journalists play in highlighting environmental issues and holding accountable those responsible for ecological harm. Their pursuit of truth comes with significant risks. Over the past 15 years, there were at least 749 attacks against environmental journalists; 44 of these journalists were killed, and only 5 cases of these killings were legally completed. These alarming figures and the unacceptably high impunity rate must end. Moreover, the proliferation of misinformation poses a serious threat to environmental discourse. False narratives undermine public and political support for climate action, hindering progress toward a sustainable future. Addressing these challenges demands a multifaceted approach. We must uphold the principles of responsibility, transparency and accountability, and ensure that content moderation and curation align with international human rights' standards. In light of the complex challenges discussed during last week's Santiago conference, UNESCO will develop a roadmap to combat violence against environmental journalists and address the proliferation of climate disinformation. The roadmap will be launched next year at the COP30 conference in Brazil. Together, let's work towards a world where truth prevails, and our environment is protected for generations to come.

#JournalistsGrants~ Journalists worldwide can apply for reporting grants. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)  is offering the program Boost: Reporting Grants for Journalists. The reporting grants program is designed to expand ICFJ’s offering to its global network by introducing individual reporting grants for projects that might not fit under existing programs. The first call for applications is focused on climate and climate change. ICFJ is looking for high-quality reporting that explores this topic in the Global South. Grants ranging from US$2,000 to US$3,000 will be awarded to at least two winning proposals. 📅 ~The deadline is Nov. 1. https://lnkd.in/dHkedRgz #mediasustainability #journalists #opportunities #grants #climatechange #apply #share

Today, 5/3/24, is World Press Freedom Day. UNESCO and Chile will host the 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. Their aim is to spread awareness and highlight the fact that the climate crisis not only affects the environment and ecosystems, but also negatively impacts the lives of billions of people worldwide. The work and courage of journalists is crucial to shedding light on what is happening on our planet. #worldpressfreedomday #journalism #climatechange #globalcrisis https://lnkd.in/dvntrZFq

🌍 How can journalism contribute to addressing the world's most pressing environmental issues while also inspiring people? AFP and The Conversation France collaborated to investigate the nine planetary boundaries that are critical to humanity's survival. This project was funded by the Solutions Journalism Accelerator and it includes creating podcasts and articles that helped people understand these complex issues. Their work focused on real-world examples from the Global South, demonstrating how people are addressing climate and biodiversity challenges. Explore the case study in the first comment 👇 #SolutionsJournalism #CostructiveJournalism #GlobalSouth #ClimateJournalism