In the shadow of the Islamabad sky, the invisible battle for environmental balance continues. Behind the urban facade is a complex tapestry of environmental problems that echo the urgent call for action on climate change and ecological degradation. From the leafy streets of Islamabad to a range of landscapes, journalists’ voices echo the need for ecological protection and the promise of a sustainable future. Media representatives in the capital region of Islamabad are united to protect natural habitats and the environment.
Global Neighborhood for Media Innovation (GNMI) in collaboration with the United States Department of State organized a 3-day Green Journalism Environmental Journalism Workshop in Islamabad. Led by senior environmental journalist Afia Salam, the training is aimed at empowering mid-level journalists, digital content producers and filmmakers on various media platforms.
“Environmental journalism plays an important role in raising awareness and shaping public opinion on important environmental issues,” said Husnain Raza, director of GNMI. “Through this exercise, we aim to equip journalists and content producers with the knowledge and skills needed to increase the volume of climate reporting in Pakistan.”
The comprehensive program covers topics such as understanding environmental science, differentiating climate and environment, producing data-driven and investigative stories, digital storytelling techniques, and content distribution strategies. Training sessions are integrated by incorporating environmental perspectives into their daily reports to improve participants’ production skills.
The training included sessions led by renowned experts such as Talha Ahad, CEO and founder of The Centrum Media (TCM), a leading digital media network, and Badar Hushnud, founder of Bramerz and Fishing, a leading digital startup in Pakistan. . Sabz journalistic staff have a valuable opportunity to learn from their wealth of experience and expertise, gain insight into marketing techniques to create or strengthen digital news platforms for digital news initiatives and environmental reporting.
Dr Bashir Ahmad, Director CEWRI, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Zeeshan Mangi, Deputy Head of SDGs, Ministry of Planning and Development
Islamabad and senior broadcast journalists Tanzeela Mazhar and Absa Komal also spoke at the training session.
Islamabad’s rapidly growing urban population is exacerbating the effects of climate change, and the city is slowly turning into a concrete jungle, said local reporters in the capital. Emissions and green spaces have decreased.
Associate Press Pakistan (APP), Pakistan Television (PTV), Dawn News, Hum News, Independent Urdu, 92 News and various print and digital media participated in the event.
The Green Journalism fellowship program aims to provide journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to report effectively on environmental issues and promote public awareness and understanding. The program also seeks to promote data-driven and analytical reporting, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable development through the production and dissemination of climate-focused content on digital media platforms.
