CLIMATE CHANGE IV

ANTICIPATING CLIMATE RISKS

A Media21 journalist workshop during the 3rd World Climate Conference

Geneva (Switzerland), 31 August-4 September, 2009

Field Trips: Bangladesh, Mali or California (to be confirmed), 5-10 September

With the collaboration of the World Meteorological Organization

• Training and awareness raising of 20-30 journalists from all continents on present knowledge about climate change and its implications on practical policies.
• Meetings, interviews and interaction with global actors – WCC3 participants and Ge-neva-based experts
• Improved knowledge of international efforts on this issue, link between global and local
• Understanding of the interdisciplinary links between climate change and other major planetary challenges: disaster reduction, water management, food security, sustain-able energy, health, transport and tourism…
• Acquisition of a contact list of experts and key players
• Experience sharing between journalists from diverse regions and backgrounds on professional good practises
• Field experience: waste recycling in Geneva, green economy projects in California (tbc) and the impact of climate change in a developing country (Bangladesh or Mali, tbc)
• Production of articles or broadcasts during and after the workshop, to be later published in participants' local media.

• 20 to 30 journalists (print, agencies, radio, TV, web, photo and weather presenters) from different continents
• Places available also for communication officers of UN agencies, NGOs and firms.
• Professional experience: middle and high level.
• Selection by Media21 on the basis of articles sent beforehand, motivation, geographical and gender balance.
• WMO and other partner organizations may also propose applicants.

• 20-30 trained and well-informed journalists
• These journalists will join the worldwide Media21 Network of "Global Journalists" (800 members by April 2009)
• Workshop participants and Media21 Network members will become privileged interlocutors of partner organizations.
• 1 or 2 stories published or broadcasted by each participant in his/her local media during the workshop or up to three months later (minimum 30-40 stories)
• Online edition of articles/broadcasts during and after the workshop, also compiled in On Assignment  magazine, which will be sent to all Media21 partners, network members and mailing list (3000 recipients).

• The goal of Media21 workshops is not only to produce stories in the short term (even though many participants do so), but also in the long run to provide a global perspective of the issues, together with tools and contacts to foster effective information on global themes that will reach local audiences.
• Many participating journalists can become a resource themselves (contacts, aware-ness-building among local or regional colleagues).

• 5’400€ per journalist (average for 20 participants, including organization, sessions, flight and accommodation in Geneva, per diem, 1 week field trip).