Accuracy is key in climate change reporting, student journos told

CAPTION: PaCE-SD communications officer Sarika Chand talks about climate change at the WansolwaraToks forum. PHOTOGRAPHER: Vilimaina Naqelevuki.

JOURNALISM students of the University of the South Pacific were reminded about the threat of climate change and the need to report the issue accurately and consistently.

The comments were made by communications officer for PaCE-SD Sarika Chand at last week’s Wansolwara Toks on environment reporting.

Chand said scientific research had established beyond any reasonable doubt that climate change is real.

Chand, a USP Journalism alumni, stated that in general, Pacific Island journalists were more accepting of the facts regarding climate change, unlike their western counterparts who were more skeptical in the past.

She said this was possibly because the effects of climate change were felt more acutely in the Pacific region.

The regional media, she said, was more advanced in its reportage in this area, especially when reporting on the impacts of climate change in the Pacific.

Countries like the United States of America have a long history of denying climate change and elements of this were reflected in how the US media framed the issue, she added.

USP Journalism students Mereoni Mili and Grace Tuvakasiga pay attention attention to Sarika Chand. USP Journalism Programme coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh is in the background. PHOTOGRAPHER: Vilimaina Naqelevuki.

Chand outlined that climate change impacts the region in many ways, such as food security, health, ecosystem, water, culture, language and identity, together with extreme weather events.

She stressed the need to keep up to date with news sources as research on climate change was frequently updated, and she pointed out that not enough reporting was being done on the health sector.

Culture, language and identity are other aspects that should be covered more often by the media, she stated.

PaCE-SD is actively researching climate change and offering postgraduate studies on the subject. With the courses that they have on offer, they continue to add to the pool of local scientists with a deeper understanding of the region.

Many students who have graduated from the PaCE-SD programs are well placed in the climate change sector in the region, and have already started making contributions to research and scholarship in the Pacific.

Final year USP Journalism student from Tonga Linda Filiai said the forum was very interesting and educational.

“The media should  highlight the impacts to ensure that Pacific islanders are more aware and also to get the attention of leading countries to address the problem,” she said.

<<Article written by Abishek Chand>>

*Wansolwara Toks is a public forum organised by USP Journalism to broaden student exposure to experts, deepen their knowledge on major public interest issues at stake, and build their contacts, which includes the USP Journalism alumni.  Chand is a USP Journalism alumna.