State journos briefed on climate change reporting
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, December 29 2021: As climate change transcends all borders and makes its way into the newsroom like never before, the phenomenon is increasingly presenting a Herculean proposition for journalists across the state.

Many of them are left grappling to find a way to effectively deal with the emerging global subject.

To capacitate the state journalists for better understanding and reporting on the subject, a one-day online interactive session was jointly organised by Media Working Group on Climate Change (MWGCC), Media Resource Centre, Manipur (MRCM) and Manipur State Climate Change Cell, Directorate of Environment & Climate Change at the conference hall of the directorate in Imphal on Wednesday.

Speaking as the resource person, Department of Science & Technology (DST) adviser/scientist 'G' Nisha Mendiratta said that media play a pivotal role in creating awareness and in bringing about positive behavioural change among the people in mitigating the anthropogenic climate change.

She continued that lack of media coverage has been a contributing factor in the prevailing low level of public awareness and concern on the issue.

"Hence, the role of Communication and Mass Media is immense in mitigating the impact of climate change and in ensuring sustainable development," she said.

Mendiratta who is also the head of Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) then highlighted the role of DST in sensitising media on different aspects of Climate Change, to enhance public attention and action towards combating the global phenomenon.

According to her, the magnitude of global warming incidence in India has been somewhat moderate but the impact has been one of the highest owing to its high population density and poverty.

She also said that human activities are responsible for climate change.

"There is no ambiguity about human-induced climate change across the globe in terms of global warming, sea level rise and extreme environmental events".

Directorate of Environment & Climate Change joint director Dr Prajakumar informed that the rationale for organising the interaction programme was to enhance the capacity of the state journalists, especially media fellow recipients and intending candidates for the upcoming State Level Media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change Reporting III which will commence from January of 2022.Senior journalists' Pradeep Phanjoubam, Salam Rajesh and Sobhabati Samom among others also shared their views on capacitating the state journalists and strengthening climate change reporting in the state.

Participating journalists also got the opportunity to ask questions to the resource person and senior journalists on various areas of the topic.

Around 56 persons including journalists, fellow recipients,'scientists and officials from the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change attended the interaction programme.

Comment