Female Journalists from the Albertine region urged to embrace new multimedia tools, extensive research to enhance environmental communication
Drake Nyamugabwa
Western Media for Conservation (WEMECO) with support from Global Green Grants Fund and other Environment conservationists who convened female journalists based in the Albertine region in the Bunyoro sub-region appealed to journalists to enhance their efforts on environment reporting through extensive research and new multimedia tools to sustain the association of the communities with environmental conservation.
This was during a female journalists’ workshop organized by WEMECO on 11th March 2023 at Glory Summit Hotel in Hoima City in the Albertine Region in Bunyoro sub-region, Uganda.
The workshop attracted journalists, communication specialists, and representatives from environmental NGOs among others.
WEMECO is a media organization established in 2018 defending and promoting environmental justice in East Africa, with the objectives to promote Environmental justice and Human rights through media at both grass root and national levels, to create awareness, document and stimulate local communities’ participation in Uganda’s natural resources governance, to advocate for ethical media practices in Uganda, and to advocate for gender inclusiveness in Uganda’s natural resources governance. It can be accessed online at: www.wemeco.org with offices in Hoima City.
The Executive Director WEMECO Peter Akugizibwe Araali
The Executive Director WEMECO Peter Akugizibwe Araali, urged the female journalist to enhance environmental reporting through various approaches that will enable the community to identify their specialty, focusing on the involvement of the community who are most affected by the effects of climate change.
This according to the Executive Director, will widen their influence in the conservation of the environment, and create more exposure and networking opportunities.
“With human interest stories on your platforms, people will identify the reporter while using the bottom-up stories. There are many opportunities for women journalists while reporting on the environment” he said
Mr. Peter added that the main objective of the female journalists’ workshop was to understand climate change, how to apply podcasts and new media tools, and develop action plans to facilitate climate change reporting.
Mr. Charles Batambuze pictured above, who represented the Board Chairperson Ms. Ndeezi Doreen while applauding the support from the Global Green Grants Fund and facilitators of the workshop appealed to the female journalists to embrace research-based reporting and the new media tools to simplify and enhance factual reporting on the environment.
“Do research, read environmental issues, and use new media tools for factual and simplified environment reporting” he said
The Executive Director, Navigators of Development association (NAVODA) Benon Tusingwire Abooki, underscored the importance of the media in ensuring advocacy and empowered communication on natural resource governance is realized. He said that informing environmental stakeholders will go a long way in addressing the challenges associated with climate change.
Female journalists were facilitated by various senior environment journalists, activists, and other partners including; Bazz Waiswa from Earthfinds, Precious Naturinde, Leila Bbale, among others.
Journalists in a group discussion during the workshop in Hoima City
