By Mary Mwendwa
Nairobi, Kenya: The African Women in Media (AWiM), in partnership with the Solutions Journalism Network, is set to roll out a training program for fellows under the African Environment Journalism Programme.
The project is supported by the African Green Stimulus Program and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Journalists have been invited to pitch environmental stories focused on Africa, especially the gendered aspects of environmental issues. Journalists commissioned to produce stories will have access to training. Given the global conversations around the environment, this is a timely and vital project that ensures journalists are equipped with the solutions approach to environmental reporting.
“We are pleased to have collaborated with the Solutions Journalism Network to develop this important training that aims to highlight how we are responding to environmental challenges on the continent”, said Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola, co-founder and CEO, African Women in Media. “We are grateful to UNEP Africa for supporting the capacity building of women journalists in this way.”
The training aims to cover the following areas:
- The basics of solutions journalism reporting
- Practical and working storytelling techniques and templates
- Tips on reporting for SoJo
- Quizzes to aid the fellows assimilate faster and better
“Attendees will discover that solutions journalism is an evidence-based approach that can be used for all beats, all media formats, and in all countries,” said Ruona Meyer, the Africa Initiative Manager for Solutions Journalism Network. “We expect our colleagues to also leave these sessions with a clear knowledge of how to achieve quality reporting on responses to environmental challenges. The solutions approach is journalism that takes into account the nuances and realities of our continent, resulting in a fuller narrative about Africa that is instructive, not divisive.
For more information about the Africa Environmental Journalism Programme and how to pitch stories, visit: https://awimnews.com/the-network/write-for-us/
