A Virtual Media Training Series on Environmental Journalism
Ready your pens, laptops, and journalistic skills because it's time to write more stories about climate change and environmental issues! We're looking for 100 young and aspiring environmental journalists who will be trained with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue the green beat and write more stories about the Earth!
The Green Beat: Islas is a series of free month-long virtual media training and capacity-building workshops on environmental journalism for young journalists across Palawan, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, Bohol, and Cagayan de Oro. The ultimate vision of this project is to increase the quality and quantity of news coverage on environmental issues in the campus and community newspapers, as well as different multimedia platforms, by equipping young journalists with the necessary expertise in environmental journalism.
Turning restrictions into opportunities brought about by the global health crisis, one hundred (100) qualified young writers from the campus publications in the collegiate level will undergo an online blended learning experience which involves innovative online skills-training workshops and learning sessions, online mentoring and coaching sessions with senior journalists and media outlet editors, a virtual round-table discussion with community stakeholders, and a digital story exhibit and conference.
The Green Beat: Islas is a project of the Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ) and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, together with its implementing partners across the areas: Palawan State University’s University Student Government (Palawan), Xavier University’s Development Communication Society (Cagayan de Oro), President Ramon Magsaysay State University’s Biology Majors Society (Zambales), the Office of the Vice-Mayor Bong Marquez (Occidental Mindoro), and Holy Name University (Bohol).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be:
between 18-35 years old;
officially enrolled as a university/college level student;
currently residing or studying in any of the following areas of implementation: Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, or Bohol;
available to fully and actively participate in the 5-week online training (timeline below);
having a stable access to internet and a personal laptop to have an optimum online training experience;
a YSEALI member. If not yet a member, registration is quick and easy at: http://yseali.state.gov.
We are looking for someone who:
already has a minimum background or knowledge in journalism or writing (whether as a course take-up, with experience in campus journalism, or part of the campus paper, or even simply writing as a hobby or strong interest point);
is passionate about environmental sustainability and climate action;
is willing to learn more about how to effectively tell stories on environmental issues and climate change to positively impact the community.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
By the end of the training, you will be able to:
Understand
the basic environment concepts specifically climate change concepts that will equip the campus journalist with proper background and context for their writing;
Analyze
the role and significance of media reportage in environmental stories;
Identify
relevant threats to the environment, ongoing environmental problems, unsustainable practices, and their impacts on society as needing media attention;
Demonstrate
the ability to write environment reports and features that explain the significance of the story, its impacts on society, and help raise the people’s level of awareness for environmental concerns;
Apply
journalistic skills in writing news-feature articles about the environment that provoke intelligent public discourse on the issue
You will also get to:
A. Hone your leadership by being part of a network of young earth warriors who use the power of media and storytelling to further causes in environmental sustainability and climate action;
B. Have direct access to experts and champions in the field of journalism and environmental sustainability whose wisdom and expertise have changed many lives;
C. Be a member of a larger community of YSEALI members with access to opportunities, grants, and engagements with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.
TIMELINE
A Virtual Media Training Series on Environmental Journalism
Applications close on January 31, 2021, 5PM.
