Media Newsletter – 18 October

Get the tips, funding and training to help you write your next compelling climate action story.

1. Journalism trends to watch: Africa bears the biggest brunt of the climate crisis, but African voices are underrepresented in conversations about climate action according to the Climate Change in Africa: Are Africans sleepwalking to disaster? Report. For example, Greta Thunberg, a Swede, is the voice and face of climate change on the continent. This shows that there is room for more publications, documentaries, and features addressing these issues in Africa, which journalists can take advantage of. As you set out to craft your next climate action story, this guide released by The World Editors Forum is a good place to get tips on how to write compelling articles on climate change and contribute your voice to the ongoing conversation.

2. Who’s funding: Women journalists of any nationality can get funding for reporting projects in any media format or for professional development opportunities like conferences or workshops through grants offered by The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists. Grant sizes will depend on the proposal budget, and will support projects highlighting educational opportunities, investigative reporting, and media development initiatives. Deadline: Rolling. Read more.

3. Training opportunity: Aspiring Science Journalists from anywhere in the world have the opportunity to sharpen their skills and further their careers through The Open Notebook’s Early-Career Fellowship Program. The 10-month remote, part-time program offers mentorship and training in science reporting. Fellows will also join The Open Notebook’s editorial team and get a $5,500 stipend. Deadline: Oct 31. Read more.

4. In the spotlight: Meet Ndu Okoh. The award-winning Nigerian journalist is an expert in broadcast journalism, public relations, corporate and research communications, and business development. She recently joined bird news agency as the editor-in-chief, a role that will see her work with more than 40 journalists across Africa to report stories of arts, culture, innovation, tech and human interest. Okoh has held influencer positions in top regional and global news and media houses including Agence France Presse, The Nation Media Group and The Standard Group.

Her work across sub-Saharan Africa has included providing global PR and communications, and research for the Tony Elumelu Foundation, National Defense Academy Nigeria, Arik Air and the United Bank of Africa in Nigeria, the Government of Kenya, Airtel, and World Relief. 

5. Stories that moved us: While there may not be enough said about climate change on the continent, there are several young people driving positive change in this area. Take Kelo Uchendu, a young Nigerian engineer who set out in 2016 to draw attention to the impact of climate change in his country by launching the Gray2Green Movement. Today he is policy lead at YOUNGO, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) children and youth constituency, ensuring that the voices of children and youth are heard at COP27. Read these and many more of our climate action stories here.

Curated by Glory Mafor.

Do you want to write alternative stories of climate change and action in Africa? bird news agency is looking for you, but first, you have to complete the African Stories: A guide for journalists on how to tell better stories about Africa course. It’s free, digital and only takes three hours to complete. Then you can pitch and get paid to publish on bird.