Getting journalists ready for #COP17

For the past three months, we have been running our climate change – COP17 campaign, which consists of community dialogues, training for broadcasters and running a news desk during COP17.

In the past two weeks (7 – 18 November) our offices have reverberated with the words COP17 and climate change – training and equipping broadcasters to demystify the issues of climate change and COP17, and enabling them to engage in debates at their stations.

Participants getting to grips with the issues

Bush Radio, in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, developed a training course which brought together radio journalists from throughout South Africa. With the training, the broadcasters will be able to highlight the issues of climate change and translate these issues to their various communities in a clear and efficient way. In order to acheive this, briefings were held with various stakeholders in the area of climate change – these included the public, scientists, activists, civil society, politicians, international broadcasters and the United Nations. The course also upgraded their production and journalism skills.

The BBC's Steve Martin engaging the group on the importance of community media

Two participants will also be selected to form part of the Bush Radio newsteam that will be heading to the conference to cover it for South African radio stations as well as the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

What some of the participants felt about the training:

“The workshop has opened my mind by giving me a better understanding of climate change and COP17. I feel like a new encyclopaedia filled with more knowledge than Google”.  – Tashneem Abrahams – VOC

Team building through dance

“The two weeks of being in Cape Town has really flown by quickly. The staff at Bush Radio has been very friendly, but most of all, the entire workshop has been great and the facilitator was great too. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this possible.”  –Xolelwa Mvumvu – Motheo FM

“Having been part of this 2 weeks climate change workshop has been a great experience. Meeting up with journalists from other provinces and having fun while learning was definitely the cherry on top.” –  Bongani Gina – uMgungundlovu Community Radio KZN

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Tags: #COP17, 2011, activists, AMARC, Barberton CR, Bongani Gina, broadcasters, Bush Radio, campaign, civil society, climate change, community dialogues, debates, demystify, durban, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, international broadcasters, issues, journalism skills, journalists, Kyoto protocol, Lengwadisheng Ramphele, Lesley Moses, Lethlabile CR, Lusanda Bill, Motheo FM, news desk, Phalaborwa CR, politicians, Princess Mbusi, public, Radio Atlantis, radio stations, Radio Teemaneng, Radio West Coast, Ruth molteno, scientists, South Africa, stakeholders, Surprise Genkoe, Tashneem Abrahams, Thabisile Sambo, training, Umgungundlovu FM, un, United Nations, Unitra CR, Urban Dotye, Vernon Vraagom, Voice of the Cape, Vuyo Mayeza, world association of community radio broadcasters, Xolelwa Mvumvu