Training workshop for journalists in northeast India

The Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) is a pioneering collaboration among three organizations – CICERO, ICIMOD, and GRID-Arendal – aimed at contributing to enhanced resilience of mountain communities, particularly women, through improved understanding of vulnerabilities, opportunities, and potentials for adaptation. Under its communications and outreach component, GRID-Arendal and ICIMOD will hold a training workshop for journalists, primarily from India, reporting on the Northeast region. The training will be held from 17 to 23 February 2014 in Assam, India.

Objective

The objective of the workshop is to improve creative thinking and effective communication on adaptation to climate change in a local context. The main focus areas include water, food security, ecosystems services, vulnerability, adaptation to climate change, and the role of women in climate change adaptation in Northeast India.

Tentative programme

The workshop will bring together highly motivated journalists from India working with various media outlets like broadcast, print, web, video, and photo journalism. Special attention will be dedicated to photo and radio journalists. The workshop will be conducted by two principal trainers, both international senior reporters.

Over a seven-day workshop in Assam, India, the trainers will guide participants in the art of compiling and editing stories. Participants will hone their knowledge and skills in reporting about climate change and its impacts. They will also work on creating innovative reports and exchange views with fellow journalists and local editors. One day will be dedicated to familiarization and to discussion of journalistic techniques and information gathering. This will continue with a field trip bringing the journalists to destinations than they may not be familiar with from their everyday reporting. One or two days will be dedicated to producing and finalizing the stories. An editorial roundtable with editors and the participating journalists will provide a platform for dialogue. The thematic focus areas include water, food security, ecosystems services, vulnerability, adaptation to climate change, and the role of women in climate change adaptation in Northeast India.

By the end of the workshop, journalists would have prepared relevant stories ready for publication.