VMCZ provides training on climate-related issues to journalists

TENDAI BHEBE 

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) has trained 28 journalists from various media organisations across the nation on climate-related issues in an effort to help the journalists improve their work.

Speaking on the  sidelines of a recent workshop held in Harare, VMCZ Programme Officer Caroline Kuhudzai said the aim was to help journalists play their watchdog role.

“So climate change and environmental issues have been left to experts, the government and civil society and there is less uptake from the journalists because climate change is less exciting for them.It is mainly viewed as scientific and therefore it doesn’t really sell.

“And the training that we had would  help journalists to package climate issues and  understand the importance of them ,breaking down the issues of climate change to their readers and their listeners, “she said .

Experts say climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today.

Some of the biggest threats relate to water scarcity, reduced agricultural output, spread of diseases like malaria, and biodiversity loss among others

Speaking at the same event, the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) coordinator,Njabulo Ncube said:  “As Zimbabwe Editors we are indebted to the organisers of this capacity building workshop around climate change.Climate change is a specialist area which needs specialised training. Most of our journalists do not specialise in climate change issues. It has come in handy.

“Journalism has evolved there in need for new skills you can not effectively cover climate change journalism without knowing data journalism ,the forth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence.”

In Zimbabwe, scientists say the country now experiences more hot and fewer cold days than before.

Climate action is goal number 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Goal 13 calls for urgent action not only to combat climate change and its impacts, but also to build resilience in responding to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.