How Thomson’s Climate Crisis Toolkit is helping journalists tell the climate story

Thomson's Climate Crisis Toolkit is already being put to work, helping journalists produce stories, inform communities and challenge misinformation.

Journalist Martha Fatael says she has written more than 30 climate stories using the Toolkit.  
“It’s simple, practical, and inspires us to take joint action. Climate is a cross-cutting issue, and failure to understand it will only fuel misinformation,” explains Martha.

I wrote more than 30 climate stories using this toolkit. It’s simple, practical, and inspires us to take joint action.

She made her comments after a virtual presentation of the Climate Crisis Toolkit to an audience at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) by Thomson’s Training and Communications Editor, Catherine Mackie.  The event jointly organised with Oxford Policy Management brought together journalism students, academics, civil society leaders and officials from the British High Commission.

Virtual presentation of the Climate Crisis Toolkit to an audience at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)

Also addressing the audience, Loveness Nkya from Climate Action Network Tanzania said: “The toolkit is vital because it equips journalists to report responsibly on climate change.” 

The students and journalists at the gathering were urged to play a central role when it comes to raising public awareness. Dr. Mona Mwakalinga, Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UDSM told them: “Climate change is real. Journalists must ensure the public understands it, so future generations inherit a better environment…Journalism must be part of the solution.”

Climate change is real. Journalists must ensure the public understands it.

Raising public awareness is seen as a priority too by Tanzania Media for Community Development (TAMCODE).  Along with local partners they have incorporated the Toolkit into a training manual to raise community awareness about the impact of deforestation, overgrazing and climate change along the Ruvuma River. Called ‘Voices for Water’, the project is working with people living in two districts within the Ruvuma Basin in Tanzania. The aim is for people in the community to pass on what they learn to others, helping to ensure future food security.  Journalist Rose Ngunangwe from TAMCODE told the audience that they are hoping to scale the idea nationwide if they can secure funding.  
 
Climate Crisis Toolkit for Media in Tanzania was created in collaboration between Thomson and media partners in Tanzania with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Embassy of Switzerland. It is available on Thomson’s Journalism Now e-learning platform in English (with Swahili version available via a translation button). You can also download a PDF version of the Toolkit in both English and Swahili.