When: 8 – 10 November 2017
Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Background:
Climate change is not just a story: it is the context in which so many other stories will unfold. As such, it is not a subject solely for science or environment reporters to cover. That is why it is essential for all journalists, editors and media owners to understand at climate change and realise that there is more to it than carbon dioxide and disasters.
In addition, in 2015 the 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the new 17 Sustainable Development Goals that will serve as a global agenda that will guide the world towards a more sustainable future.
For journalists getting the message across to the intended audience is a big challenge. It is challenging to have a masterful grasp of something such complex issues and to present it accurately but at the same time, to be able to present the story in such a way that it would have an impact on its audience.
In order to better support journalistic reporting of the climate change and sustainable development in Asia Pacific region, UNESCO is producing a new resource material that take into consideration the unique challenges and opportunities in the region. The forthcoming guidebook is tentatively titled “Getting the Message Across: A Guidebook for Journalists on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific” which based on the 2013 “UNESCO’s Climate Change in Africa: A Guidebook for Journalists”.
Event Format:
In order to spread the knowledge and experience on how to better report on climate change and sustainable development, this meeting will consist of two parts:
Getting the Message Across: Better Journalistic Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (Public Lecture), 8 November 2017, Pullman Hotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Objective: To help journalism educators in the region to develop a journalism curriculum that is up-to-date with the latest development of climate change and sustainable development and to help build the capacity future journalists to report holistically on the complexity of climate change and sustainable development. The public lectures produced on the first day of the conference will be made freely available as future educational video material.
Expert-Roundtable to Review Draft “Getting the Message Across: A Guidebook for Journalists on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific”, 9-10 November 2017, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Teaching Center in Kuala Lumpur
Objectives: To review and provide feedback to the draft “Getting the Message Across: A Guidebook for Journalists on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific” with feedback from journalists, scientists, and academics from the region.
Related Documents:
Related Links:
- Getting the Message Across on Climate Change
- SDG Training Workshop: Telling the Story of Global Change
- Bridging Gaps in Communicating Climate Change
- UNESCO Helps Build Climate Change Reporting Capacities of Journalists
Contact Person:Dr. Ming-Kuok LIM, PhD.
Advisor for Communication and Information
mk.lim(at)unesco.org
