Capacity-building workshop for journalists

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Journalists at the national level may not be fully aware of the key environmental challenges in the UNECE region, the “Environment for Europe” process and its role in addressing major environmental challenges and transboundary issues to be discussed at the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference. Journalists will be able to improve their knowledge and capacity to report effectively on environmental issues. This is particularly pertinent in relation to the green economy as it is an emerging concept. The workshop programme is based on the key Conference reports and products, allowing journalists from the UNECE region to deepen their understanding of key environmental issues that will be discussed by the Conference. It is also building on journalists’ professional skills and knowledge of quality journalism standards in the field of environmental and policy reporting.

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When	20 Sep 2011 from 09:00 AM to 05:30 PM
Where	Astana (Independence Palace, Astana, Kazakhstan)
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The “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conferences provide a high-level platform for stakeholders to discuss, decide on and join in efforts addressing environmental priorities across the 56 countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region. At the same time, the process focuses on helping countries of the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as South-Eastern Europe, to raise their environmental standards towards a common regional standard. The UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy decided on the following two main themes for the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference:

“Sustainable management of water and water-related ecosystems”;
“Greening the economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development”.

As any other major international conference, participation and coverage of the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference will be an important opportunity for journalists from the UNECE region to engage in professional exchange with experts and fellow journalists. It is therefore an excellent opportunity for media professionals to improve their long-term understanding of environmental issues, as well as to enhance their professional qualities.

WORKSHOP Goals

The workshop programme is based on the key Conference reports and products, allowing journalists from the UNECE region to deepen their understanding of key environmental issues that will be discussed by the Conference. It is also building on journalists’ professional skills and knowledge of quality journalism standards in the field of environmental and policy reporting.

Participants to the workshop are expected to attend the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference from 21 to 23 September. In addition to the plenary sessions, side events, and exhibitions, the Conference will offer participants opportunities for interviews, etc.

Learning objectives

The workshop will aim to accomplish the following key learning objectives, among others:

1. Deeper understanding of key environmental challenges and issues in the UNECE region.

2. Good knowledge of the “Environment for Europe” process and its achievements presented at its Seventh Ministerial Conference.

3. Good understanding of key environmental reports produced by the Conference and their key messages.

4. Useful knowledge and improved skills for covering a major international event like the Conference, including improved orientation in the Conference programme, its structure of events, processes, participants and outcomes.

Participants’ profile

The training shall bring together journalists from the UNECE member States, including approximately 30–35 participants from countries of South-Eastern Europe, Russian Federation and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. It is expected that the workshop’s participants will:

be active journalists from national media organisations;
be full time or freelance journalists, with demonstrated interest in the environment in the UNECE region;
possess strong knowledge of journalism and journalistic skills;
have knowledge of the UNECE region.

Organisers

Organisers: UNECE jointly with the Government of Kazakhstan and the European Environment Agency (EEA), and in cooperation with relevant “Environment for Europe” process partners.

PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE WORKSHOP

(as of 9 August 2011)

09.00 – 09.30	Arrival to workshop venue
09.30 – 10.00	Registration of participants
10.00 – 10.15	Opening of the workshop
10.15 – 11.30	Covering “Environment for Europe” Conferences and the environment in the pan-European region (tour de table) Discussion where participants present their work, tell about their experiences, the conditions for environmental reporting within their country and within their news desks.
11.30 – 12.15	The Seventh Ministerial Conference and the “Environment for Europe” process Overall introduction on the Conference. Countries attendance. Key documents and outputs. Types of documents and differences between them. Programme structure, highlights and major side events explained. Expected outcomes from the Conference.
12.15 – 13.00	From Dobris to Astana From state-of-the-environment assessments to assessments of assessments. EEA’s report findings presented and explained.
13.00 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 14.45	Water Issues: Cooperation on transboundary waters and reform of the water sector Presentation of the main findings and recommendations of the two reports that will be launched at the Conference, followed by a discussion and questions and answers on key conclusions and examples from specific countries and river basins.
14.45 – 15.30	Greening the Economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development Presentation of the main findings and recommendations of the thematic background document for the Conference.
15.30 – 15.45	Coffee break
15.45 – 16.30	Environment – the story within the story A discussion of the challenges and opportunities for covering environmental stories, with a particular focus on successful techniques used by journalists in this field. This will include a debate on the use of particular sources, interpreting documents, environmental policy, web instruments and databases. The session will also focus on adapting an environmental story to the limitations of the newsroom.
16.30 – 17.15	Covering the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference More details on the Conference programme, structure, side events, journalists’ access, journalists’ resources, access to press facilities, practical advice and arrangements. Programme of press briefings. Access to plenary. Information on further assistance.
17.15– 17.30	Sum-up. Closure of workshop