Covering Climate Change: A Journalist's Perspective

A journalists’ perspectiveTasha Eichenseher, National Geographic, Science Producer & EditorGerald Traufetter, Der Spiegel, Science & TechnologyRamesh Jaura, IPS Europa/IDN-InDepthNewsAsbjørn Jørgensen, Arhus School of Media and Journalism

Copenhagen, 21 September 2009

Moderator: Raymond Frenken, EUX.TV - The European Affairs Channel

Covering Climate Change

Copenhagen, 21 September 2009 www.thinkaboutit.eu

Tasha Eichenseher

• NationalGeographic.com, Science Producer & Editor

• Mission NGS: “to inspire people to care about the planet”

• covered environment issues for E/The Environment Magazine, Environment Science & Technology, Greenwire, others.

• master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

• thesis on urban wetland function and restoration.

http://www.thinkaboutit.eu/


Gerald Traufetter

• Der Spiegel, Science & Technology Editor

• Since 2000 with Der Spiegel. Previously wrote for Die Woche and Suddeutsche Zeitung and other German publications.

• Author of “Intuition; the Wisdom of Emotions” (in German: “Intuition: Die Weisheit der Gefuhle”), published in 2007.



Ramesh Jaura

• Director of Inter Press Service Europa (IPS)

• Born in British ‘India’; MA degree from University of Delhi in 1964

• Covered Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Soviet Union, Austria, Germany and France between 1968 and 1969

• Chairman of the Global Cooperation Council, which he co-founded in 1983 as ‘North-South Forum’; encouraging genuine dialogue.



Asbjørn Jørgensen

• Lecturer and Associate Professor at Danish School of Media & Journalism http://www.dsmj.dk

• Covered technology for various Danish publications

• Runs workshops at DSM with international groups on environmental and climate issues in news reporting.

• Coordinator of training in GEJI: Global Environmental Journalism Initiative http://www.gejiweb.org


http://www.dsmj.dk/

http://www.gejiweb.org/


Tasha Eichenseher

• Cases:

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/photogalleries/tipping-points-climate-change/

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090731-green-sahara.html

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081007-climate-diseases.html

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/photogalleries/tipping-points-climate-change/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090731-green-sahara.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081007-climate-diseases.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html


Gerald Traufetter

• Cases:



Gerald Traufetter

• Cases:

1986: 2007:



Gerald Traufetter

• Cases:



Ramesh Jaura

• Cases:

• Funding Climate Change / Climate Debt:

• http://www.indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2009-07-28%2014:17:49&key2=1

• Obama: no difference from Bush:

• http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47202


http://www.indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2009-07-28%2014:17:49&key2=1

http://www.indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2009-07-28%2014:17:49&key2=1

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47202


Asbjørn Jørgensen

• Cases:

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/aug/17/environment-climate-change

• http://www.downtoearth.org.in/editor.asp?foldername=20090831&filename=Editor&sec_id=2&sid=1

• http://www.kemin.dk/en-us/newsandpress/news/sider/greenlanddialogue.aspx

• http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2099

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/10-10


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/aug/17/environment-climate-change

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/editor.asp?foldername=20090831&filename=Editor&sec_id=2&sid=1

http://www.kemin.dk/en-us/newsandpress/news/sider/greenlanddialogue.aspx

http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2099

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/10-10


Asbjørn’s tips for climate bloggers:

• Read, read, read - also global stuff





• Global climate change is a fact, and mankind contributes significantly. Stop discussing that one.






• Keep your readers in mind: what do they know? What do they care about (but do not enter into arguing.)







• Look for local activities.








• Suggest solutions. Suggest action. Demand decisions.








• Suggest solutions. Suggest action. Demand decisions.

• Walk the talk. Yourself.



Gerald’s tips for climate bloggers:

• avoid strong key words like ‘catastrophe’. Do not present only the most extreme scenario's of climate change





• stick to the scientific evidence for climate change






• stick to the information published in peer-reviewed journals







• be aware of the interests of the players in the debate; especially important when it comes to green energy and other means to fight climate chang







• be aware of the interests of the players in the debate; especially important when it comes to green energy and other means to fight climate change

• put the consequences of climate change into perspective of other global (environmental) problems?



More tips for climate bloggers:

• ?


Journalists’ perspectiveTasha Eichenseher, National Geographic, Science Producer & EditorGerald Traufetter, Der Spiegel, Science & TechnologyRamesh Jaura, IPS Europa/IDN-InDepthNewsAsbjørn Jørgensen, Arhus School of Media and Journalism





New ideas?

• If we have weather channels, we could also have

Journalists’ perspectiveTasha Eichenseher, National Geographic, Science Producer & EditorGerald Traufetter, Der Spiegel, Science & TechnologyRamesh Jaura, IPS Europa/IDN-InDepthNewsAsbjørn Jørgensen, Danish School of Media and Journalism




Covering Climate Change: A Journalist's Perspective

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