HARARE, Mar. 27(NewsDayLive The Consortium for Human Rights and Media (CHARM), in collaboration with its partners Wits Centre for Journalism, Fojo Media Institute, and Magamba Network have launched the Green Media Accelerator, an initiative aimed at revolutionising environmental reporting and climate justice advocacy.
This initiative, launched at Aga Khan University in Nairobi early this week, is set to become Africa's first intensive boot camp dedicated to environment reporting, climate justice, investigative journalism, and content creation.
The Green Media Accelerator is set to help some of Africa's most promising green media startups deepen their skills and produce cutting-edge climate and environmental content.
Speaking at the programme launch, Magamba Network creative director Samm Farai Monro said: “We live in turbulent times where Africa is heating up due to global warming caused by humanity’s addiction to fossil fuels."
“As a continent we only produce 4% of global carbon emissions yet we face disproportionate and catastrophic consequences such as drought, crop failure and rising sea levels,” Monro said.
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“It is key that we build more platforms for our young African storytellers to raise awareness about the climate emergency and the need for a just energy transition not based on fossil fuels.”
He added that they intend to use the Green Media Accelerator to connect storytellers with environmentalists to champion the struggle for a more just, egalitarian, and green Africa.
The boot camp will not only facilitate the creation of new climate and environmental productions, but also provide start-up grants and a distribution plan across multiple digital platforms, ensuring that grassroots voices on climate, environment, and rights issues are amplified.
The programme also seeks to enable journalists to produce high-quality content that raises awareness on climate change and environmental sustainability.
Participants will receive mentorship, funding, and access to advanced media tools to improve their storytelling, digital platforms, and creative media campaigns.
Dinesh Balliah, director of Wits Centre for Journalism, expressed hope that the model will be used to promote quality journalism.
“We hope the GMA model will be used by others in the journalism space to influence the production of high quality, evidence-based information in a world where we seem to be drowning in mis- and disinformation,” Balliah said.
Jean Nyaradzo Mujati, programme manager at Fojo Media Institute, added that: "Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and the media has a vital role in conveying its urgency.
“The Green Media Accelerator is a key initiative designed to empower journalists from Africa to report on climate justice issues with accuracy, depth, and urgency."
