Report of the Media Workshop

On Effective Reporting of Climate Change Adaptation

Training organized by

African Adaptation Programme, which is Funded by Japan Government Through UNDP and Implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources

Conducted by ScienceAfrica

Naivasha, Kenya21-25, November 2011

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AFRICA’S LEADING PUBLICATION ON SCIENCE INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Background and Overview of the workshop .......................................................................................................... 4

Workshop Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

Workshop Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Keynote Address ................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Emerging Issues ................................................................................................................................................................... 6

EFFECTIVE REPORTING OF CLIMATE CHANGE ..................................................................................... 6

Understanding Science Journalism ............................................................................................................................. 6

How to pitch a Story .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

The Basics of a good science news/feature story ................................................................................................. 8

Climate change in the media .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Improving climate change reporting effective peer networking .................................................................... 11

Emerging issues .................................................................................................................................................................... 12

UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS ................................................................... 13

The Reality of Climate Change ...................................................................................................................................... 13

Carbon Trade: Myths & Realities .................................................................................................................................. 15

Emerging issues .................................................................................................................................................................... 15

CLOSING REMARKS ......................................................................................................................................................... 16

Otula Owuor: Science Africa ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Ms Aileen Ogolla: AAP ........................................................................................................................................................ 16

APPENDIXES ........................................................................................................................................................................ 18

Workshop Program ............................................................................................................................................................ 16

Resource materials ............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Published articles ................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Questionnaires ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Evaluation form ................................................................................................................................................................... 21

List of participants ............................................................................................................................................................. 22

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1.0. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background and Overview of the Workshop

The media training on effective reporting of climate change adaptation was officially opened by Ali Mo-hammed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources. The workshop was held at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha, Kenya, from 21-25 November 2011.

The three-day hands-on workshop for middle-level and experienced science reporters and editors was conducted by Science Africa Ltd and organized by African Adaptation Programme, which is funded by the Government of Japan, through UNDP Country Office and Implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.

Over 30 young and experienced journalists (men and women) with keen interests in environment and climate change issues attended the workshop. They were drawn from urban and rural-based print and electronic media from all over the country.

Representatives of the collaborating institutions, climate change and communication’ experts, research-ers and high-level newspaper, television and radio editors also attended and made relevant presentations during the training. The training covered the following key areas:

Keynote addresses, Challenges facing science reporters, Review of published articles, Experience-sharing on the best science writing practices, Understanding of Climate Change Review of media coverage of Climate Change How pitch stories to editors, Interviewing skills and how to relate to scientists, How to write climate change stories with impact on policy, Networking skills, Understanding Carbon Trading, and Reality of Climate Change

1.2. Workshop Objectives

The overriding objective of the training was to build capacity of the science reporters to understand and report effectively on Climate Change Adaptation.The specific objectives are to:

1. Help emerging science journalists and others with interest understand climate change and its implications for Kenya

2. Improve skills of journalists for coverage of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies

3. Share experiences in covering climate change

4. Identify story ideas on climate change and issues surrounding it

5. Create a pool of journalists dedicated to effective coverage of climate change

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1.3. Workshop Methodology

The workshop adopted a participatory and experience-sharing approach to learning. Science communica-tion experts, project leaders, senior editors and climate change adaptation experts gave presentations to the Journalists followed by open discussions to clarify issues and jargons. The media trainers evaluated the Journalists through structured questionnaires to gauge their knowledge and understanding of climate change issues, their levels of interactions with experts in the field and knowledge of institutions leading efforts towards climate mitigation and adaptation. Group work, role play were used to increase the effec-tiveness of the workshop. Time, space, computer and internet facilities were provided for the participants to write articles and scripts based on the presentations by experts in climate change. The stories were reviewed and improvements suggested. Hence, the journalists wrote articles and or produced radio and TV news clips based on presentations and direct interviews with presenters and official guests.

The participants were also provided with various relevant background materials on climate change (see appendices section for details). The evaluation report shows that most participants were certified with the workshop. Even so majority felt that more experts should have been invited to talk about climate change. A significant number also said the time allocated for the workshop was not enough as additional time was needed to accommodate a field excursion.

1.4. Recommendations

The following were the key recommendations made by the participants.

1. Strengthen rapport and trust between journalists and scientists through joint trainings.

2. Support activities of existing and emerging national, regional and country or local Media Networks to help in promoting effective and responsible climate change reporting.

3. Future training should last at least five days so that more practical sessions, including field excur-sions to mitigation and adaptation activity sites can be accommodated.

4. Establish Climate Challenge Media Excellence awards to encourage consistent, accurate and bal-anced reporting of climate change adaptation.

5. Support/facilitate rural-based media outlets to report more on climate change.

6. There is need for a follow up workshop to be held between nine months to a year later. It will help review what the team of journalists who attended the Naivasha training had done and contribute towards sustainability.

2.0. KEYNOTE ADDRESS

2.1. The role of the media in creating awareness on climate change

By Ali Mohamed: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources

The PS, who was also the official guest, said that from a climate science perspective, the media is a strategic partner in the service delivery system, especially in the area of climate information dissemination, warn-ing, adaptation and mitigation. Climate change is now a development issue and hence the media should give it necessary attention so that even governments across Africa can take it more seriously than they do currently. The PS said there is clear linkage between diseases and changes in climate that the media can

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help to highlight for policy makers to take necessary action. Noting that the climate science is still evolv-ing, Mohamed said such media training should continuous if journalists are to cover the issues effectively and sustainably. He urged the media to report not only on the global processes aimed at mitigating climate change but also on adaptation mechanism down to community levels. He gave examples of energy saving stoves, tree planting and REDD+ activities at a Ranch in Taita, Taveta. Promotion of mitigation and adapta-tion strategies would help Kenya save its remaining forests and its wetlands currently being encroached at an alarming rate. He promised the ministry would give support to community radios in the country to create awareness on climate change and call for action against the causes. The PS said Kenya is advocat-ing for binding and enforceable international agreements to help minimize the effects of climate change in Africa, since the country is one of the most vulnerable. In addition, said Kenya’s position is that major emitters of Green House Gasses should reduce the emissions within a legally binding framework that is open to internationally recognized verification methods. He urged the media to help the country to push its position, during the COP 17 meeting in Durban and beyond.

Emerging IssuesDuring the ensuing discussions the following key issues emerged

There is need for a comprehensive policy to govern Carbon trading in Kenya to cushion poor communities from exploitation by companies and NGOs involved in the trade

The media should help the government to champion its position on reduction of carbon emis-sions through a legally binding and fair international protocol.

There are money organizations in the country benefiting from carbon financing without sharing the benefits with farmers

There should be new additional financing for climate change mitigation in low carbon emitting countries

3.0. EFFECTIVE REPORTING OF CLIMATE CHANGE

3.1. Understanding Science Journalism

Facilitated by Otula Owuor, Daniel Otunge and Naftali Mungai: Science Africa

For most African media houses, science reporting is not a daily routine because most reporters and edi-tors do not understand it, they noted. Unlike politics, business and sports, science reporting is generally placed on the fringes of mainstream journalism. Various deep-rooted factors tend to keep science at the bottom of news reporting. It begins with journalism schools that traditionally avoided admitting students with science backgrounds or strong interest in science reporting, preferring those excelling in languages, humanities, and social sciences. “The courses offered hardly mentioned the coverage of science, he said.” This means that the coverage of science is yet to be integrated into the core or the basics of overall jour-nalism training. Media houses seldom give those who are chosen to learn the art of reporting in-house or given on- the- job training are not introduced into the world of science journalism. Hence, science report-ing in Africa has been largely and individual’s effort.

Even so, over the years there have been some positive changes. These included giving experts space op-portunity to answer specific questions and focus on common or unique challenges facing society. Edi-tors and reporters should therefore rethink their stand against science journalism, arguing that science, technology and innovation are critical to global affairs and development. There are also challenges posed by an increasingly enlightened audience –including policy makers and scientists - in the need of credible, interesting and well-researched stories with updated facts and data to inform and educate appropriately.

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Some of the most difficult challenges facing science reporters are linked to stereotypes and myths – associ-ated with the work of journalists and scientists - that have yet to be overcome. It is still assumed that when dealing with serious academic, professional and research issues such as climate change, scientists have their own communication outlets, especially peer-reviewed journals that are inaccessible to the general public. Some scientists still feel that they have no business dealing with the mass media as an important outlet. Therefore, science writers are left to depend on journals as sources of information important to the public.

It is a major professional challenge for even those with the best mass communication skills when one is to reduce piles of jargon and statistics into short, simple and clear message sentences and paragraphs which, for example, reduce 15-page research paper into quarter page news story.

When journalists push for timeliness and proximity, researchers feel harassed and pushed beyond ethical limits. However, there are emerging trends brought about by issues of accountability and transparency whereby scientists who conduct research using public resources are expected to inform the public regular about what they are doing with their money. This explains why the mass media today has better access to stories about the initiation of research, the aims, possible results and impacts.

However, science reporters in Africa are well-placed to generate stories with impact because it is a region where the role of science and technology can be easily linked to solving various devastating problems, such as diseases, food shortages, poor housing, lack of clean water, power or energy shortages, poor sani-tation, and decaying transport and communication infrastructure. Science journalism in Africa is still seen as journalism of basic human needs. It is interwoven with basic human needs and rights and is well placed to positively or negatively initiate positive changes in policy including budget allocations. Science writers are best placed to expose the availability or unavailability of important services needed for survival and development. To cope with what may seem as insurmountable challenges, even skilled science reporters first need to develop at least some strong interest in the coverage of science issues, like climate change adaptation. They also need to believe that they have a professional, ethical and social responsibility to ef-fectively cover various aspects of modern biotechnology.

One of the professional challenges facing science writers is linked to ‘balancing’ stories that may be scien-tifically deficient. He argues that one does not always balance science stories the way political writers do by simply getting opponents’ views that may be based on propaganda. He emphasized that when sources seem blindly opposed to some scientific products, services and research activities without credible proof or explanation they often resort to propaganda that the media is expected to carry as facts in ‘balanced’ stories. This is particularly common when dealing with controversial subjects like modern biotechnology, climate change and HIV/AIDS.

Thus apart from handling various science stories, there is also need to specialize and cope with rapid changes in the world of science and technology.

3.2. How to pitch a Story

To enable participants to understand how to pitch stories, they were divided into six groups and each group was asked to appoint two reporters and an editor. The reporters were instructed to come up with story ideas on climate change and sell them to the editors. During the discussions the participants learnt that any journalist who wants to sell a story must first make sure that the story is sellable, readable and useful to audiences. Good reporting means the reporters must understand the issues then use that back-ground to report effectively. People need information they can use readily,” it was explained. Packaging of the stories is also another weakness that needed to be addressed. It emerged that no editor will publish a story that is poorly written, incomplete, defamatory and factually incorrect.

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The following elements of effective story selling strategies were identified:

Newsworthiness the story

Human interest

Briefing the editor before embarking on a story

Good background research is vital

Good writing skills

Some of the reasons why editors reject stories were:

Low rating of science stories compared to other stories

Lack of broad appeal to target audience

Lack of importance

Lack of fresh angle

Lack of relevance

Too scientific a story

Low understanding and appreciation of science among readers

Misrepresentation of facts

Poorly written, dull story

3.3. The Basics of a good science news/feature story

Science stories can be made interesting through intelligent and creative angling. For instance, climate change stories can be given business, political, health, agriculture, energy and human interest angles, among others. Science journalists should be prepared to generate stories that are informative, timely, interesting, credible, effective and with appropriate background information.

A good science journalist needs to have a list of story ideas or issues to cover without waiting for the usual assignments from the news desks. It is important for one to try and run a series of stories when dealing with important issues like climate change as this creates impact. A science writer needs to follow up is-sues. The tendency to forget to update issues is a widespread weakness. Participants also got tips on good science writing.

It was noted that an effective science journalists must be:

knowledgeable in the field of specialization Conversant with policies and international scientific instruments governing that field skilled writer committed to ethics of good journalism trust worthy, confident competent dynamic credible

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professional ready to go the field to get the story well exposed to the scientific world in close contact with the scientists

The following are some of the characteristics of a good science news/feature story.

Topical Credible Correct in usage of minimal or very few scientific terminologies if really needed. Simple, clear but not simplistic interesting/entertaining/ Have Proximity Informative and Educates Factual/ Accurate/ element of science or proven knowledge Include socio-economic, political cultural perspectives free of exaggeration/sensation field-based not desk-based newsworthy morally and ethically correct Reflect Role of media as the people’s watchdog

The following story ideas were identified

1. Carbon trading (REDD+ projects, CDM projects, carbon financing global negotiation, etc)2. Communities innovative and traditional ways of coping with climate change3. Role of NEMA as Designated National Authority on Climate Change4. Government policy on carbon trading5. International protocols on climate change6. Budget allocation to key climate change institutions such as NEMA, KMD, MEMR and what they

are doing with it7. International sources of climate financing/budgets and who benefits8. Role of Private sector in climate change mitigation and adaptation9. Updates on Mau Forest rehabilitation as the main water tower, tree species being planted10. Impacts of climate change on water, forests, agriculture, energy, health, education, security, riv-

ers, mountains, lakes, oceans, migration, food security, urbanization etc11. Historical rainfall and temperature changes 12. Role of Gene back in the climate change debate13. Role of modern seeds in reducing impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity14. Biotechnology and climate change

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3.4. Climate Change Adaptation in the Media

The discussion was particularly lead by Ms Rose Lukalo Owino, a media consultant. In her presentation she said, most media stories about climate change less appealing to readers because they are based on doom, misery and fear. People However, journalists can climate change articles interesting by making the relevant and current, focusing on Kenya’s responses to climate change, telling people’s attitudes towards climate change and breaking down issues thematically. Profiles of climate change warriors (people do-ing something against it) and the business of climate change can also make interest reading, Lukalo said. Climate change reporting is quite challenging to most journalists because the subject is technical, boring if not handled properly and much of the information on the subject are projections. She listed various sources of climate change information suchlike:

Conferences, Reports, Communities (e.g. women who are the most affected) News sources (journals, mass media etc) Experts, UN agencies, Universities, Research institutions, Government departments Internet, Climate panels, among others

On how to generate stories that have impact on policy, Lukalo started by outlining the traditional roles of the media, which are to inform, educate and entertain. She said that the media today must go beyond the three traditional roles to embrace strategic functions like advocacy and mobilization of the population for a worthy course, such creating positive awareness on climate change, its impacts, and adaptation and miti-gation strategies. He said the media cannot impact policy formulation if they stuck to their traditional text book roles. Traditionally the media’s impact on policy-making has been via news, features and editorials, opinion and commentaries that expose, criticize and demand governments’ action and official positions on critical national and international issues such as climate change.

The conventional meaning of Policy is that it is the way or approach, methods and means by which a public or a private entity handles specific issues they are responsible for as per their mandate[s]. Therefore, she said, a policy presents the intention, vision, mission and objectives of that entity on a certain matter. The concept of policy also takes into account the modus operandi—the ways and means; the authority, respon-sibility, resources and timeframe within which a particular issue has to be dealt with. Policies are flexible, time-bound and normally a guiding framework with which to manage an issue. Policy-making therefore simply means initiating, formulating and instituting a set of regulations and frameworks that govern han-dling or approaches to a critical issue of national, regional or/and international importance, like climate change and issues surrounding it such as carbon emissions and trading.

Media exposure of issues such has been known to elicit government reaction, leading to promulgation of policy where applicable. Lukalo said this can be done through a photograph, audio, video or print articles. She gave an example the impact the Late Mohammed Amin’s photos of the effect on policy famine in Ethio-pia had on the Ethiopian government and the rest of the world. Amin’s exposure of human suffering due to effects of drought powerfully influenced policy-makers, international relief agencies and civil society to take immediate remedial action.

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In the case of climate change, she said the media should look into issues such as impacts on key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, energy, education, health, infrastructure and security. They should also focus on climate change negotiations, carbon emissions, carbon markets, carbon trading in Africa, mitiga-tion strategies, among others.

She noted that for the media to succeed in influencing policy, the journalists must first understand and appreciate that climate change is really and has immediate consequences on people’s lives, especially in Africa.

3.5. Improving climate change reporting effective peer networking

The discussion was facilitated by Mr. Daniel Aghan, who is the secretary of MESHA (the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture). The objective of this presentation was to remind participants of the need to work together for sustainable and effective reporting of climate change. Aghan started by practically demonstrating how a network works using a string. Participants were asked to form a circle and hold hands. The string was given to one of the participant to throw to another participant who in turn was to do the same while holding on to the string. The string went round until it formed a web-like structure with Aghan relating the formation to a network.

He said networks are made up of similar organizations and likeminded individuals that meet regularly to discuss matters of professional growth and personal interest. These organizations or individuals of what-ever number do not compete, they cooperate to advance their mutual interests like improving reporting skills on challenging subjects like modern biotechnology, Aghan said. Group members may have a focal point to converge or serve as an information resource. Networks usually create public space for a dialogue to begin within the development community on the effectiveness of networks for international develop-ment.

He said networking is making links from people we know to people they know, in an organized way, for a specific purpose, while remaining committed to doing our part, expecting nothing in return. A professional network consists of any group of individuals or organizations who actively and consistently exchange information or undertake joint activities around a central theme and organize themselves in such a way that their individual autonomy remains intact. Professional networks bring together or link people working at the same level (e.g. researchers or developers), or people of different levels (e.g. researchers and extensionists), individuals, organizations (institutions, NGOs, etc.) or a mixture of them.

Networks may serve as conduits for learning new ideas about the environment and climate change, he noted, adding that they are more of learning organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to learn together. The activities of Networks should be interesting and beneficial to members. They normally include the following: exchange activities such as mail, workshops, visits, joint active assignments, etc; and production and dissemination activities such as newsletter, publications and training.

Mr Aghan told the participants that networks are created for a variety of purposes and embodies a variety of structures, depending on what is perceived to be the optimal way to achieve a certain goal, the structure of a network varies. He said networks are more than just a resource centre for its members – There is a great deal of variation in terms of expected member contribution and benefits. Though knowledge and information sharing are important activities of most networks, the core of the network is the relationships among its members.

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Ten Commandments for Networks

He outlined the ten commandments of networking as follows:

1 Blueprint Your Life! First, define your purpose. Decide what you want.2 Accept Responsibility! Be accountable to yourself for the choices you make 3 Be Coachable! Listen for and be open to new ideas

4 Show Up! Be at places that count. 5 Be Yourself! Demonstrate your own authenticity. Be real.6 Pay attention! Look for opportunity! Talk 20% of the time! Listen 80% of the time!

7 Contribute! - Be the solution!

8 Ask For What You Want! - Tell people what you need. They can’t read your mind.9 Say “Thank You!” - Express appreciation. 10 Stay Connected! - Be in touch!

Networks seek to build the capacity of members and other stakeholders. In this realm, network members need to “dare to share” (i.e., be confident enough in their work that they are willing to share it with oth-ers). This sharing can be facilitated by the creation of an open environment in which people are willing to analyze and learn from both successes and mistakes.

Emerging issues Despite the increasing realization by media houses that there is need to improve the quality and

quantity of science coverage, science writers have to be more competitive and innovative in the gathering and packaging of their stories in an environment that seems to regard them as outsiders.

Science stories have to compete for space and airtime against others from the world of business, art, music, sports, politics, education, conflicts, crime and accidents. In cases, for example, where a media house has a weekly science page or programme, there is need for integrating science into every section of the newspaper apart from being included in the news editor’s list of the daily items. Issues on diet and athletics or a focus on various aspects of sports medicine could appear in the sports pages. A science writer could, for example, target the features section with a profile of a leading scientist thus creating room to highlight important science activities linked to the expert.

To survive in newsrooms one has to come up with innovative strategies of making science stories earn space and airtime.

It is very difficult for an editor to spike a story simply because it is scientific. Stories will be pub-lished on merit. When reporting, think of the news value not the science. It is the news value (im-pacts, effects, human interest, proximity, prominence, etc) that should guide the reporter and the editor as well. Get different angles from a story. Leave no stone unturned and upturn all turned stones.

There is need for participants at the workshop should form an informal online network for com-paring notes on climate change reporting

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4.0. UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

4.1. The Reality of Climate Change

Dr Samwel N. Marigi: Senior Assistant Director, Kenya Meteorological Department

Dr Marigi’s presentation centered on the significance of climate change, its climate change science, ob-served climate change and associated impacts, future change scenarios and concerns, current policy and strategic interventions in Kenya and the role of KMD. This is a government institution responsible for providing weather and climate forecasts and warnings for the safety of life, protection of property and the natural environment as an input to the socio-economic development of the country. Key functions of KMD include climate change detection, monitoring, prediction and early warning. Dr Marigi said addressing climate change requires a multidisciplinary approach at all levels from national, regional and global. The Department plays significant roles in the region in terms of climate data management (collection, moni-toring and archival), climate risk assessment, development of early warnings and capacity building.

He said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that Climate Change is a reality and no longer a speculation and that the global warming is due to human (anthropogenic) activities. This conclusion is grounded on decades of scientific analyzes of data from systematic observations by a network of meteorological stations of member countries of World Me-teorological Organization (WMO)

The global warming is causing glaciers to melt faster than predicted, surface levels of seas to rise sharply, storms and drought to become more intense, disease pandemics to increase and the rate of desertification to increase. He said this scenario could trigger mass migration of climate refugees within their countries and across trans-boundary borders, a situation likely to cause conflicts. He explained how the climate sys-tem (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere; Cryosphere; Biosphere and the Lithosphere) interact to keep the earth in balance as shown in that figure below.

The Climate System and Interactions

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He explained that excess Greenhouse gases are causing imbalance of the gases in the atmosphere, lead-ing to warming of the earth as illustrated by the figure below.

The chief greenhouse gases (GHGs) which are responsible for global warming consist of Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Tropospheric Ozone (O3), and hydro-fluorocarbons (HCFCs). The principal way in which these gases operate is to prevent the escape of heat initially received from the sun by the earth’s surface back to space, he explained. Some of the current observed trends and impacts of climate change in Kenya are:

Temperature rises;

Decreasing rainfall trends;

Melting and retreat of mountain glaciers;

increasing frequency of ENSO events (extreme climate events) in particular drought, siltation and floods

Spread of diseases ( e.g. malaria and Rift Valley Fever) to non-prevalence

The 1997/8 El Niño caused extensive floods damage to property (houses, roads, bridges and crops)

Drying of rivers and lakes (e.g. Lake Nakuru and Lake Baringo) among others

Reduction in agricultural productivity

The government, he said, has come up with various policy and strategic interventions, including the signing and ratifying of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto protocol; enactment of The Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) of 1999; the establishment National Environment Management Authority (NEMA); and development and implementation of National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS).

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4.2. Carbon Trade: Myths & Realities

Tom Owino Oduol: Technical Director, Carbon Care LtdThe main objective of this presentation was to enable participants to understand issues climate change and issues surrounding it such as international negotiations and carbon trading. Mr. Odual defined climate change as changes in average temperature over time. He said the rise has many negative effects on the en-vironment and human life on earth. The global community is embroiled in on-going negotiations through the UN system aimed at finding legally binding and lasting solutions to mitigate climate change. He gave the seven-year Kyoto Protocol which came up with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Under this mechanism Emission reduction projects in developing countries are to earn CER (Carbon Emission Reduc-tion) credits which can be traded and sold, and used by developed countries to meet a part of their emis-sion reduction targets. The objectives of CDM, he said, are to Mitigate climate change through GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFC, PFC, SF6) emission reduction and stimulate sustainable development in host/developing countries. He said CDM operates under additionality principle. This means the emission reductions must be additional to those that would have occurred without the development of the proposed CDM project activity on a business as usual scenario. The emission reduction must be real, measurable and long term. The project must also result in sustainable development in the country. He explained that carbon credit is the difference between emission before and after the project. CDM project must be registered with UN-

FCCC. Allowable Credit Period for CDM projects is seven years with option to renew twice, or ten years without renewal. Oduol said CERs generated by CDM projects like in Kenya Power and Mumias Sugar are marketable commodities that can be sold on world market. There are tough rules governing forests since use of carbon sinks is limited to reforestation and afforestation programmes. The trees once planted must not be cut down over a period of time. He said REDD+ is a viable carbon trade option for companies and nature-based organizations like Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). He challenged the media to put the govern-ment to task on what it is doing to promote benefit-sharing with regards to carbon trading projects. Typi-cal CDM projects are: Renewable energy (cogeneration, hydro electricity, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy); Energy efficiency (Improved cook stoves and Efficient lighting (CFLs); Methane recovery; industrial projects and CO2 sink projects (reforestation and afforestation)

Emerging issues

Kenyan communities are being exploited by carbon traders operating in the country. Hence the government should come up with a policy to regulate their operations and protect the people from such exploitation.

Media should help the people to understand climate change and issues surrounding it by creat-ing awareness through accurate and balanced reporting

The benefits of carbon trading activities include foreign exchange earnings, technology transfer, sustainable productions, environmental protection, efficiency in production and usage of re-sources and improved returns on investments

Most African governments do not fully understand carbon trading and are therefore by-passed by savvy organization that go directly to the people under the NGO Act as is the case in Kenya

African voices are underrepresented in international climate change negotiations because repre-sentatives often abdicate their responsibilities by going for shopping instead of participating in the hard talks.

Media should also report the challenges faced by Africa in terms of carbon trading mechanisms not just the hype.

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5.0. CLOSING REMARKS VOTE OF THANKS

5.1. Mr Otula Owuor: ScienceAfrica

Thanked the participants for enduring the rigorous program that lasted three days. He paid tribute to the AAP, Ministry and UNDP teams for envisaging, planning, organizing and managing the workshop. He praised the presenters for adding value to the participants’ understanding of climate change issues that will lead to more effective and increased reporting.

He called for a constructive engagement with the media to ensure better communication of emerging climate change for the benefit of the people of Africa which is most affected by the impacts. The media, he noted, had a difficult task of balancing business with social responsibility to inform the public responsibly, objectively, accurately and in a timely manner. He called for closure cooperation between the media and experts to increase coverage of climate change.

He thanked organizers for giving ScienceAfrica the opportunity to conduct the workshop and called for more future cooperation.

5.2. Ms. Aileen Ogolla: AAP

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors of the workshop, Ms. Aileen Ogolla, thanked the participants for re-sponding positively to the call to attend the workshop albeit on a short notice. She said the training work-shop was a learning experience for all. She reiterated the need for maintaining the network of journalists and scientists to ensure accurate and sustained media coverage of climate change issues. As indicated by the PS, MEMR, AAP would look for opportunities to support journalists in their pursuit of excellence in covering Climate Change issues. She said the Ministry has a lot of relevant and current resources on cli-mate change that journalists could use as background materials for stories. She thanked ScienceAfrica for conducting the workshop efficiently to ensure the objectives were met.

5.3 Evaluations

(Questionnaires, Stories and Workshop)

It was noted that 95% of the media houses in Kenya cover climate change adaptation issues while only 5% of the participants said that climate change and adaptation coverage is not applicable in their media houses. It was also notable that none answered the question… what aspects of climate change adaptation interest you most? This was an indicator of the need to focus more on climate change adaptation issues. The highest percentage of participants at 75% said that their media houses cover climate change and ad-aptation anytime if newsworthy, while 15% of participants cover issues of climate change and adaptation on a weekly basis and 10% on a monthly basis.

In addition, most of the participants at 85% who were trained said that they report/cover climate change and adaptation issues while 15% of the participants said they have not covered climate change and ad-aptation. Thus, one of the aims of the workshop was to quip such participants who have not reported on climate change and adaptation with skills to report effectively climate change and adaptation issues.

35% of participants described climate change and adaptation as just another issue that media deals with; while 30% described it as easy and interesting while the rest thought that climate change and adaptation issues are complex and boring.

Most of the participants at 95% were expected by their media houses to send stories from the workshop before it ended. A number of participants had interests on climate change and adaptation varying from

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global warming, adaptation & mitigation, carbon trading, rising water levels in the sea, erratic rainfall and climate change and agriculture.

The questionnaires – administered just before the workshop began- were designed to test the participants’ journalistic skills and knowledge on climate change and its causes and impact. None of them consistently generate climate change stories on a weekly basis. Nearly 30% of them did not clearly understand the role of Mau Forest as Kenya’s major water catchment area. However, they expressed willingness to focus more on issues of climate change and its various impacts after the workshop. Practically all the participants had heard and have an idea on what climate change is and its impacts, especially in Kenya because of the severe drought and the related humanitarian crises in Kenya and other Horn of Africa Nations. Nearly 20 percent of those who responded- had very clear understanding of climate change issues.

It was notable that those who excelled in the hands-on exercise to generate climate change stories from the resource persons were among those who initially felt it was not easy to generate between four to eight paragraphs stories or scripts. At least two of the most promising journalists in the coverage of climate change were those from FM stations using local languages or vernacular and Swahili, who had earlier seemed assumed it was almost impossible because it involved translation (see appendix). The partici-pants had exchanged their scripts and article to help determine which ones were “good stories” meeting the basic of 5Ws and H.

In terms of ranking, 94% of participants answered most questions with (4&5) or agree and strongly agree respectively; this is equated with or same as positive and very positive respectively. However, more than half felt there was need for a field visit. The facilitators were seen as thorough, well versed and dedicated to their task with the participants’ expectations being met. The hotel and food was highly ranked despite and its being in an isolated area was not mentioned in any negative terms.

Conclusion:

As a whole the workshop was successful and already a network is emerging as agreed and journalists are letting others know about the stories they are generating while others are seeking comments and have initiated continued links with the facilitators and resource persons..

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6.0. APPENDIXES6.1. Workshop Program

6.2. List of Participants

6.3. Questionnaires

6.4. Resource Materials

6.5. Practical Session- Story Samples

6.6. Impact of Climate Change25 Tips in Reporting Climate Change

6.7. Hot 100’ News Writing Tips (Compiled by Sheryl Swingley)

6.8. Glossary of terms

6.9. Articles

6.10. Evaluation Form

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Sample Scripts/StoriesHabari 1pm

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Naivasha

Kenya in miongoni mwa nchi barani Afrika ambayo imeathirika pakubwa na ongezeko la mabadi-liko ya hali ya anga baada ya uchafuzi WA hewa na nchi tajiri duniani.

Katibu Wa kudumu katika wizara ya mazingira Ali Mohammed, amesema kongamano itakayo-fanyika nchini Afrika Kusini wiki ijayo kuhusu mabadiliko ya anga duniani itaipa Kenya fursa ya kupinga uchafuzi huo na pia kulipwa fidia.

Insert…PS climate change

Mohammed amesema hayo hapo jana baada ya kufungua rasmi warsha ya waandishi WA habari ku-toka sehemu tofauti humu nchini, wanaopata mafunzo kuhusu mabadiliko ya anga nchini huko mjini Naivasha. Ends…/Diana

Habari 2pm

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Naivasha

Idara ya utabiri WA hali ya anga humu nchini imesema ina mikakati maalum ya kuweka vituo vya kupima hali ya anga katika kila kaunti humu nchini.

Naibu mkuu katika idara hiyo Dkt. Samwel Marigi amesema hatua hiyo inanuia kuwapa ripoti mwafaka kuhusu mabadiliko ya hali ya anga katika sehemu kadhaa. Aidha, Marigi ametoa wito kwa wananchi kutilia mkazo matangazo zinazotolewa kupitia vyombo vya habari kuhusu mabadi-liko ya hali anga ili kuepuka maafa.

Ends…Diana

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY; JOURNALISTS TOLD.Journalists have been challenged to communicate science news effectively to enable people who have not been trained in science to understand the issues that surround science.

Speaking at a media training on climate change in Naivasha, Rose Lukalo, a media consultant urged journalists to find the simplest and most comprehensible way to communicate science news.

Rose said that subjects like climate change sound complex, but it is the responsibility of journal-ists to make them relevant and interesting.

“ The issue of global warming sounds like a complex phenomenon, but journalists should ensure that they understand it and demystify it so that even the people at the grassroots who do not have a background with science can understand climate change and its effects.” She said.

Answering the journalists on how to push science news to the headlines, Rose Lukalo encouraged them to avoid the use of jargon and make the news interesting by giving it a human interest angle so as to break the stereotype that science news is boring and cannot make it to the headlines.

20

AFRICA ADAPTATION PROGRAMME

Journalists Training

21st – 25th November 2011

Workshop Evaluation

Participant Name (Optional)....................................................................................................................

Institution/ Organization..........................................................................................................................

Job Title...................................................................................................................................................

Year in Position: <1 1-3 3-5 5+

Instructions

Please Circle your response to the items. Rate aspects of the workshop on a 1-5 scale:

1=”Strongly disagree” or the lowest, most negative impression

3=” Neither agree nor disagree,” or an adequate impression

5=”Strongly agree” or highest, most positive impression

Choose N/A if the item is not appropriate or not applicable to the workshop. Your feedback is sincerely ap-preciated. Thank you.

WORKSHOP CONTENT (Circle your response to each item)

1=strongly disagree 2=Disagree 3=Neither agree nor disagree 4= Agree 5=Strongly Agree N/A=Not Applicable

1 I was well informed about the objectives of this workshop 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

2 This workshop lived up to my expectations 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

3 This content is relevant to the task of planning within my sector 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

WORKSHOP DESIGN

4 The workshop objectives were clear to me 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

5 The workshop activities stimulated my learning 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

6 The activities in the workshop gave me sufficient practice and feedback 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

7 The difficulty level of this workshop was appropriate

8 The pace of this workshop was appropriate

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR/FACILATATOR

9 The instructor was well prepared 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

10 The instructor was helpful 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

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WORKSHOP RESULTS

11 I accomplished the objectives of this workshop 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

12 I will be able to use what I learned in this workshop 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

SELF-PACED DELIVERY

13 The workshop was a good way for me to learn this content 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

14 What would have been done differently to improve this workshop? (Check all that apply)

Provide better information before the workshop

Clarify the workshop objectives

Reduce the content covered in the workshop

Increase the content covered in the workshop

Update the content covered in the workshop

Improve the instructional methods

Make workshop activities more stimulating

Improve workshop organization

Make the workshop less difficult

Make the workshop more difficult

Slow down the pace of the workshop

Speed up the pace of the workshop

Allocate more time for the workshop

Shorten the time for the workshop

15 What other improvements would you recommend for the next workshop?

16 What was least useful about this workshop?

17 What is most useful about this workshop?

TRAINING VENUE

18 The accommodation was ideal 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

19 The food was good 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

20 The training venue was suitable 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

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MEDIA TRAINING ON EFFECTIVE COVERAGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

DAY 2: 23 NOVEMBER 2011

# NAME MEDIA HSE/ORG TEL EMAIL

1 Mercy Adhiambo SciDev, Nbi 0722740028 dhiambomarcia@yahoo.com

2 Diana Wanyonyi Baraka FM, Msa 0726317872 Deegal95@gmail.com

4 Angela Michieka KCA News Net-work, Nbi 0727704338 kemmangel@gmail.com

5 Joseph Wambugu The Star - Nyeri 0720974663 joewambugu2003@gmail.com Joewambugu2003@yahoo.com

6 Philip Muasya The Star - Mwingi 0720782746 p_muasyan@yahoo.com

7 Robert Ochoro The People -Kisii 0728435255 rochoro2000@yahoo.com

8 Lydia Mwangi Coro Fm Radio –Nyahururu 0724872324 lydia2006_7667@yahoo.com -

9 Renson Buluma The Standard -Busia 0722942952 renorgi@yahoo.com -

10 George Achia Science Africa, Nrb 0724604630 ogeorgeachia@yahoo.com

11 Asha Muktar Freelance/online, Nanyuki

0725827428 ashaabdi@ymail.com

12 Joseph Wakhungu Radio Waumini, Nbi 0725639968 Josephwa07@yahoo.com

13 Kennedy Arthur Wekesa KTN, Nbi 0720261396 kwekesa@standardmedia.

co.ke

14 Emmy Jepkirui Chirchir Consultant, Nbi 0701437557 emmychepkirui@gmail.com

15 Peter Kahare People, Nakuru 0724596538 pkahare@gmail.com

16 Isaiah Kiprono Langat

Radio Africa Group (Star), Nairobi 0721543296 Isaiah.langat@radioafrica-

group.co.ke

17 Sandra M Chao Standard (Msa) 0719580168 Sandra_chao@yahoo.com

18 Jacob Olonde MEMR, Nbi 0728925306 olondejacob@yahoo.com

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19 Bozo Jenje Nation (Msa) 0722593402 bozojenje@yahoo.com

20 Joe Ombuor Standard, Nbi 0722578398 joeombuor@yahoo.com

21 Benard Ndong Freelance, Nbi 0711464630 Bentax09@gmail.com

22 Naftali Mwaura AfricaScience News, Nbi 0723629177 naftalimwaura@yahoo.com

23 Phoebe Mutua Radio Mangelete, Mtito Andei 0720965514 pmwongeli@yahoo.com

24 Musa Lakanet Oltoilo le Maa, Narok 0725029926 mlakanet@yahoo.com

25 Elijah Ndirangu Free lance (Nation), Nanyuki 0722148028 mmugunda@yahoo.com

26 Mary Ndirangu Kenya News Agency, Nairobi mawandi7@gmail.com

27 Weldon Kirui KBC Radio, Nairobi 0725 271309 oriopkirui@yahoo.com

28 Grace Wekesa The Standard, Ka-kamega 0720719859 gracewekesa2011@yahoo.com

29 Jael Mshai KBC TV, Nbi 0711443704 mshai90@ymail.com

30 Aileen Ogolla AAP 0736229079 akogolla@gmail.com

31 Diana Kathure AAP 0720452563 Diana.mutengo@gmail.com

32 Daniel Otunge Science Africa 0725336353 Daniel.otunge@gmail.com

33 Otulah Owuor Science Africa 0722843101 ootulah@yahoo.com

34 Leo Ogwango Science Africa 0789883879 Logwango2000@yahoo.com

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AFRICA’S LEADING PUBLICATION ON SCIENCE INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT