DCU Institute for Climate and Society
DCU Institute for Climate and Society
Climate Change Media Masterclass series
6 x online workshops for reporters, editors, producers, media professionals and others involved in communicating about climate change

Climate Change Media Masterclass series

to
Target Audience
All Welcome
Is registration required?
Yes

The DCU Institute for Climate and Society with support from Coimisiún na Meán is offering a series of online sessions aimed at helping journalists strengthen and deepen their climate change coverage.
 

This online course will run weekly during lunchtimes from late September through October. Registration will be required to attend the sessions. 

 

Course Format:

 

  • Each session will begin at 12:30 PM and finish at 1:30 PM.
  • The first 30 minutes will introduce the context and present available research on the week’s topic.
  • The next 20 minutes will feature a “fireside chat”-style Q&A with a journalist working in the relevant area.
  • The final 10 minutes will be dedicated to questions from attendees.

 

Session Schedule:

 

  • Tuesday, 30th September – The Basics of Climate Science for Journalists
  • Tuesday, 7th October – The Role of Communications and Media in Societal Change
  • Tuesday, 14th October – The Role of the Media in the Climate Crisis
  • Tuesday, 21st October – UN, EU, and National Climate Policy Explained for Journalists
  • Tuesday, 28th October – How to Cover Corporate Sustainability
  • Tuesday, 4th November – The Role of Storytelling and Solutions-Oriented Journalism

 

Session 1: The Science of Climate Change with Dr. Darren Clarke
This session builds on the information on basic climate science supplied in the pre-course materials
It is reporter-focused, looking at how journalists can best understand and report scientific reports (IPCC reports, temperature anomaly reports, climate change attribution studies)

presentation-slides-session-1.pdf

 

Session 2 : The role of communication in social and political change with Dr. Declan Fahy

- Why societies disagree about the “wicked problem” of climate change
- How communication and persuasion work in relation to climate action
- The main political players in the climate space
- ENGOs and other lobbyists active on climate change
- The power dynamics of social movements and politics
- The role of communication in the diffusion of low-carbon technologies through society
- The roles of dialogue and deliberation in mobilising climate publics

presentation-slides-session-2.pdf


Session 3: The role of the media in the climate crisis Dr. Dave Robbins

- What is the proper role of the media is covering environmental issues? Informing the public? Advocate      for climate action? Hold power to account?
- How do traditional values such as objectivity, fairness, and balance survive contact with climate change?
- What are the challenges faced by the media in covering climate change?

presentation-slides-session-3.pdf

 

Session 4: How to cover climate policy with Dr. Darren Clarke
- How to decode climate policy and climate action plans
- How to cover COPs
- How to navigate climate policy at national, EU, and UN levels

presentation-slides-session-4.pdf

 

Session 5 : How to cover corporate sustainability with Dr Aideen O’Dochartaigh
- Approaches to CSR and ESG
- Reporting obligations on companies
- CSRD and the EU Green Taxonomy
- How to spot greenwashing
- How to read a sustainability report – what to look for, and importance of science-based targets

presentation-slides-session-5.pdf

 

Session 6 : Solutions journalism and positive storytelling with Prof. Pat Brereton
- The role of other media – TV, film, documentary
- Definitions and origins of solutions journalism
- Examples of solutions journalism
- Need for positive imaginaries

presentation-slides-session-6_1.pdf