Conference on Climate Journalism in Eastern Europe and Caucasus

Ahead of COP29 in Azerbaijan, this half-day work shop is meant to give climate journalists a better idea of how to report on a UN climate change conference. Over the years, COPs have evolved from government negotiating platforms into huge climate fairs – a networking opportunity for more than 25,000 participants, with delegates from almost 200 countries, observers from business, NGOs and science, and thousands of accredited media representatives. Covering such an event is a challenging task, but the annual event presents a major opportunity for journalists worldwide to put renewed focus on the climate angle in their reporting. What are the key topics to watch this year in Baku? What makes good COP coverage? What are typical pitfalls to avoid? How can journalists collaborate? What counts beyond the reporting when visiting a COP?

Trainers: 

• Julian Wettengel, staff Correspondent for Clean Energy Wire
• Olha Boiko, CAN EECCA Coordinator

Register and take a badge 

Welcoming remarks from organisers (n-ost & Publika)

Interactive get to know each other

• Katherine Dunn, content editor at the Reuters Institute Oxford Climate Journalism Network

She has been at the OCJN since it began in January 2022. Since then, she and her colleagues have worked with around 600 journalists from more than 120 countries and territories, as well as hosting senior editors for climate leadership workshops. She was a co-author of the 2023 report from the EBU on climate strategy in newsrooms, and she regularly speaks to journalists and researchers about climate journalism.

Previously, she was an editor at Fortune magazine where she covered climate change and the energy transition. Before that, she worked for the Wall Street Journal, S&P Global Platts and Maclean’s. She is Canadian and lives in London.

• Anna Romandash, Journalist (UA)
• Alexej Ovchinnikov, Editor-in-Chief, UWEC UWEC Work Group (BY)
• Marine Leduc, Freelance journalist (RO)

The Black Sea, shared between 6 countries, is a central point in the Russian war against Ukraine as well as its victim. This nearly-closed sea has a fragile ecosystem that is vulnerable to climate change, but many protection and restoration projects have been suspended because of the war.

This workshop aims to help the participants learn about how to develop a cross-border story that would be interesting for audiences in diverse countries in the region and develop solutions-oriented media content instead of alarming reporting on climate and war.

• Katerina Topalova, Public Broadcaster (MK)
• Daiva Repeckaite, Freelance Journalist (LT)
• Denise Hruby, Freelance Journalist (AU/USA)

This workshop aims to equip you with the tools to transform complex technical information into captivating and emotionally resonant climate stories. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to connect with your audience on a deeper level through the power of storytelling.

• Aleksandar Samardjiev (MK)
• Aneta Zachová, Euractiv.cz (CZ)
• Natia Kuprashvili, Journalism Resource Center (GE)

During the workshop experts will share insights of their work, focusing on how to integrate local elements into the broader picture and effectively convey local stories within the climate framework in your stories. Additionally, you will discuss the stringent regulations of the EU, providing guidance on how these rules can enhance agricultural productivity.

• Nico Schmidt, Investigate Europe (DE)
• Alexenia Dimitrova, Freelance Investigative Journalist (BU)

Join us for an empowering workshop dedicated to equipping you with the tools and knowledge to effectively report on climate issues. This session will cover a range of essential topics, including where to find open and free climate information and data about your country, especially if national authorities withhold it.

You'll learn how to turn international datasets into local insights, uncover your government's climate commitments, and access information that debunks climate myths and fake news. We'll also guide you on fact-checking your climate stories, finding specific climate information, and visualizing your stories at no cost.

Discover unknown climate stories in your country, generate new story ideas, and enhance your expertise to write like a pro. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your climate journalism skills and make a significant impact.

• Serhii Barbu, Journalist, Channel 5 (UA)

This summer, green energy partly helped Ukrainians survive these blackouts. Solar power plants became a symbol of energy independence. Ukrainian society is debating how to restore the energy sector destroyed by the Russians. Should we rebuild old and unecological coal-fired thermal power plants? Or should we give preference to green energy? And the role of journalists in this discussion is extremely important in order to objectively assess all the arguments.

Using a specific journalistic story as an example, participants will understand how different the work of journalists in their country and Ukraine is (or is not). We will analyze the TV report “The course is unchanged: Ukraine will abandon coal”, which was aired on Channel 5 and sponsored by n-ost. English version.

• Iryna Nedaiborshch (UA)
• Natasha Belikova (BY) 

Moderation: Anneke Hudalla, n-ost 

Belarusian-Ukrainian project, which focuses on the consequences the full scale invasion had on the Belarusian-Ukrainian relations. Due to Russia’s aggressive policies and the actions of the authoritarian Belarusian regime, which made Belarus a co-aggressor, many Ukrainians began to perceive Belarusians as enemies. This project offers the opportunity to experts, opinion leaders, political scientists, economists from both countries to explore how to find a way out of such a crisis situation, how to help Ukrainians separate Belarusians from the regime in Minsk, demonstrate that the Belarusian people do not support Russian aggression, and simultaneously feel guilt and shame for causing pain to Ukrainians. 

Join us for the discussion aimed at fostering common ground between Belarusians and Ukrainians. Recognizing that the future of a democratic Belarus is closely tied to Ukraine's victory in Russia's war in Ukraine, and now we must think about how we will build relations between our close peoples.

(drinks, food, networking)

Place to be announced

Organised by Mariam Devidze, Climate expert

• Tamta Mikeladze, Social Justice Center (GE)
• Moldir Utegenova, MediaNet (KZ)
• Julia Alekseeva, European Radio for Belarus (BY/PL)

Moderation: Lika Zakashivili, chief-editor, Publika (GE)

• Nargis Kosimova, ecolog. uz (UZ), will speak in russian
• Moldir Utegenova, MediaNet (KZ), will speak in English
• Tsira Gvasalia, Cactus Media (GE), will speak in English

In this session, experts will present a unique multimedia project that united journalists and bloggers from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to create inspiring content about life and the environment in the Aral region. From online courses to expeditions, participants immersed themselves in environmental journalism to uncover stories that can shape the future. We will also explore how climate change impacts not only agriculture and public health but also contributes to gender-based violence, as highlighted by a 2023 survey conducted by the "Ecolog" Public Association in Uzbekistan. Additionally, we will discuss the effects of climate-related disasters on regional communities, using the aftermath of the Shovi disaster in Georgia as a case study.

• Karine Darbinyan, Data journalist (AM)
• Tinatin Maghedani, Civil Movement Gavigudet (GE)

Based on the in-depth analysis presented in the article "National Security Concerns Due to Skyscrapers Towering in Yerevan," we will explore how rapid urbanization and housing construction can pose significant challenges to a country's security infrastructure. Additionally, the discussion will expand to cover the speaker's activist work in Rustavi, Georgia, where effective communication strategies have played a vital role in mobilizing community efforts to address urban development issues. This session aims to highlight the importance of balancing growth with security and the powerful role that communication and activism play in shaping urban landscapes.

• Suren Deheryan, Ampop Media (AM), will speak in russian

We will explore the emerging ethical challenges posed by the rapid advancements in AI within the field of journalism. The discussion will focus on the new legal and ethical considerations that arise as news organizations increasingly integrate AI into their production and distribution processes. We will also examine how AI systems use news content for learning and the implications this has for journalistic integrity. 

• Mariam Nikuradze, OC Media (GE)
• Karen Harutyunyan, Civilnet.am (AM)
• Tanya Hendzel, Green Portal (BY)
• Serhii Barbu, Journalist, Channel 5 (UA)

Moderation: Anneke Hudalla, n-ost

Why is the climate crisis not a hot topic in most Eastern European media? Should journalists bring the topic to the fore - or would that mean misinterpreting the role of the media? What can we do to increase our audiences´ interest in questions of climate change? These and more questions will be at the core of our panel debate.