By Ngozi Nwoke
Participants at the media training
Sterling One Foundation (SOF) recently held a national sustainable media training for journalists in partnership with Microsoft Company in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Themed ‘Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Strengthening media capacities for effective reportage’, the chief executive officer (CEO) of SOF, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, in her welcome address, said: “Media help to intensify the issue’s salience and create public pressure for change, thus shaping policy responses and mitigation strategies and corporate environmental practices. Additionally, the media are among the leading actors involved in disaster management, a role that is increasingly crucial in the face of accelerating climate catastrophe and the increased occurrence and intensity of extreme events.
“This training programme will offer a mix of knowledge and skills to enhance your ability to communicate progress effectively on the 2030 agenda. Capacitating journalists with knowledge of sustainable development. To engender high-quality journalistic practice that holds government accountable to Agenda 2030.
“Acquainting journalists of SDGs targets and indicators and how to monitor specific indicators of SDGs and generate compelling stories and reports that will galvanise local and people’s actions for sustainable development in Nigeria. Strengthen the capacity of participants in sustainability reporting with emphasis on economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It will also enhance skills and knowledge of journalists to approach reporting from the sustainability perspectives.”
Media experts highligted that journalists should also seek the views of people directly impacted by climate change issues and break down the subject and statistics, as well as put a face to their reports.
Also, journalists are expected to talk to experts on implications, risks and possible solutions to the problems, adding that they tend to underestimate the power/impact little stories can make in changing the society.
Mr. Fidelis Mbah, senior journalist, Aljazeera English TV, noted: “Those who have tried to fight some of the challenges that they face, must be given a voice. Make sure that everybody is represented, not just talking about government officials coming to release the policies, but also how people are taking these policies, and how they’re able to actually adapt to the environment.
“Then, you have to pick up your visuals carefully. It’s important to carefully select your images or videos, especially environment stories. Ensure that the visuals represent the realities of the story at hand. For instance, if you don’t use images of the appropriate people, there will be a misrepresentation. So the right pictures and videos have to be used to illustrate your story.
“Don’t get carried away by the rhetoric of public officials. And you can only do this if you actually do your homework. Research they know their previous statements. If they’re giving you statistics, cross check them.
“Also, get the views of independent experts so that you’ll be able to know whether the government is actually living up to its coefficient, or whether they’re not able to meet up to the promises that they’ve made to the people. Good journalism ensures greater coverage of everything as it affects politics, business, health, housing, education, food, national security, entertainment and sports. But make sure that you are adapted so that people will be able to relate with the issues you are talking about.”
Mr. Victor Emeruwa, CEO, The Sun Media Foundation, stated: “The content and context of media promotion of climate solutions. We have heard about solutions analysing. As journalists, we are supposed to ensure that our stories have that solution elements, whatever stories you’re doing, and think of the solution elements. That is the only way you can make a change through your report.
“The second is addicts find areas and opportunities and climate reports. There are loads of opportunities in this ecosystem. The best is the pathway to apply in an advancing solution, sustainability reporting.
“Now, the role of media awareness is crucial. One of the major roles of the media is public education. Of course, you know that our job is to educate the public on whatever issues are of interest.
“But in getting the interest of the public, you must ensure that whatever information you’re letting out is accurate. Ensure that you pass all the level of your accuracy check to ensure that all your information remains accurate. There is a calling rule of the media in creating awareness.
“The world is changing, and we also have to change with it. So, when you have that solution at the back of your mind, you will attack the story from the better point of view.
“It is not just about writing the story. It is about how many changes occurred with your story. Have you been able to track your stories to determine the change it makes? The role of the media also transcends providing information. Journalists must have that really at the back of their mind.
“Finally, we have the media to perform the watchdog roles. So, the government, the policy community, and the community that we serve, you must provide your watchdog. I know that the watchdog role at the moment, especially with regards to government, is very challenging at a point, especially for those working in government establishments.
“Give yourself that self motivation as a journalist. Then, create a niche known as an advocate for any of the themes on sustainability that you want to talk about. You may want to do reports on poverty and climate change. The final thing is to motivate yourself. This is the only way you can find opportunities within the sustainable development system.
“But one of the greatest opportunities is fulfilment. There’s a way you write a story, and the response comes to you, and you feel so fulfilled. There’s also an opportunity in the policy space. “Specialising helps you to specialise. As we approach the 2030 deadline for SDGs, which is a widening space and opportunity for expansion specialists, you can provide local, national, and global solutions to the three C’s.”
Climate change expert, Seun Akioye, noted: “Nigeria is one of the most vulnerable countries in South Saharan Africa. Nigeria’s natural capital, physical, and human capital is all impacted. Climate Risk Index (2019) by German Watch reports that Nigeria is most vulnerable. The vulnerability index puts Nigeria 158 of 182, scoring 37.5.
“High vulnerability states are Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe and Kano. The sectors most affected are agric and food security, forests, biodiversity, water resources, energy, infrastructure, health, human settlement, industry and commerce.
“Editorial limitations to climate reporting are lack of in-depth knowledge about subject, lack of motivation (not money necessarily), low level of public interest, government think naira/dollar issue, subsidy is more important, climate change is not attractive like other beats, private sector can help train, give grants, build capacity and sponsor journalists to COP.”