A new study from two Makerere University dons highlights the crucial role of specialised training in strengthening environmental journalism in Uganda. Conducted by journalism lecturers Ivan Nathanael Lukanda and Gerald Walulya of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University, the research focuses on the impact of training initiatives developed and implemented by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME). It demonstrates how these programmes empower journalists to effectively report on environmental issues and become powerful advocates for change.
Lukanda and Walulya’s research, titled ‘A spark of interest and empowerment: An assessment of climate change journalism training initiatives by local media support organisations,’ was published in the Winter 2024 edition of Journalism Education: The Journal of the Association for Journalism Education. is This study is based on comprehensive interviews with trainers and participating journalists, a thorough analysis of training materials, and a detailed examination of participant demographics.
The research is focused on ACME’s ‘Enhanced Media Capacity for Inclusive Development’ programme implemented from 2019-2021 with support from the European Union Delegation to Uganda. The initiative was designed to provide knowledge-based journalism training on key public affairs issues, including environmental issues. Fifteen journalists, a significant number of whom were women and representatives from upcountry radio stations, participated in the two-phased environment reporting training programme. It used a blended approach combined with intensive in-person workshops with flexible online sessions, a format carefully chosen to minimise disruption to often thinly-staffed newsrooms.
Impact of the training programme
The study revealed the training’s relevance. Participants reported a significant increase in their interest in environmental reporting, along with the acquisition of invaluable skills in areas like investigative reporting, data journalism and narrative storytelling related to environmental topics. Beyond skills development, the programme fostered crucial networking opportunities, connecting journalists with environmental experts, and even opening doors to potential funding for environmental projects. Several participants noted that the training directly empowered them to launch their own specialised media platforms focused on environmental issues or to engage more deeply with their communities on environmental concerns beyond the scope of traditional reporting.
ACME’s commitment to gender inclusion was also highlighted, with the study noting the significant representation of women in the programme, contributing to a more diverse and representative voice in environmental journalism. The inclusion of women and upcountry journalists also gave the training a national character, ensuring that the environmental needs of marginalised groups such as women and rural dwellers receive attention.
Challenges remain
However, the study does not shy away from pointing out the challenges. A persistent issue is the perceived lack of interest in environmental stories among some newsroom editors, which can create a bottleneck, limiting the support journalists receive and hindering the publication of crucial environmental stories. The study also underscored the precarious nature of funding for both training programmes and environmental reporting itself, with a heavy reliance on donor grants raising concerns about long-term sustainability. Lukanda and Walulya also identified the ongoing need for more specialised climate change trainers who possess up-to-the-minute knowledge of the rapidly evolving environmental landscape and can effectively convey this complex information to journalists. The study notes that environmental journalism and climate change training are rare in Uganda. This makes initiatives like ACME’s all the more important, as they have a demonstrable impact on the hierarchy of influence within the media ecosystem.
Despite these challenges, the training programme demonstrably impacted participating journalists and the broader media landscape. Participants reported consistently applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills to report on a wide range of environmental issues, from localised challenges within their communities to nationally significant events and even global environmental trends. The training also highlighted the critical role of radio journalism in Uganda, particularly in rural communities where radio stations often serve as the primary source of information about the environment, maintaining close ties with the predominantly agricultural communities they serve. Testimonies from participants indicated that the training was relevant to their work and opened several opportunities for career growth. The training modules were deemed relevant, as trainees applied the acquired knowledge to report on stories of community, national, and global significance.
The study also observed that climate change environmental journalism in Uganda remains low in priority compared to beats like politics, business and sports. This is attributed to the high cost of reporting on environmental issues coupled with the financially constrained circumstances of many newsrooms operating within a weak economy. This makes it difficult to sustain environmental reporting and training without consistent donor funding. The study indicates that the continuation of such training programmes is dependent on climate change remaining a priority for donors. The study acknowledges that its intention was not to conduct a representative sample.
Recommendations of the study
Looking ahead, the researchers recommend integrating environmental journalism into the core curricula of journalism schools. This would ensure that future journalists are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to cover these critical issues from the outset. They also suggest that future training initiatives should target both young and senior journalists, as well as newsroom editors, to foster mentorship opportunities and increase the likelihood of environmental stories being prioritised for publication. Finally, they propose decentralising training programmes, organising them at the regional or local level to broaden access for journalists across the country, particularly those working in under-resourced upcountry media outlets. This recommendation does not undermine the importance of mid-career training offered by media development organisations, which address the contemporary needs of working journalists. These shorter training sessions also cater to the needs of journalists who may not have had access to formal journalism training.
While challenges persist, particularly concerning funding and securing editorial support, the impact of programmes such as ACME’s is clear. This study provides evidence for continued and expanded investment in environmental journalism training, recognising its contribution to raising awareness, fostering informed public discourse, and facilitating positive change in the face of environmental challenges.
The full report can be read here – A spark of interest and empowerment: An assessment of climate change journalism training initiatives by local media support organisations
