For international Radio day that is celebrated annually on February 13, Terra FM, celebrated over three days with several activities including a conference to fuel collaboration among journalists and other environmental experts in amplifying messaging around climate change.
During a conference held at the AIC Church in Ramogi Chawa,Mukambu Chiefodm,Mahagi territory in Ituri province,North Eastern DRC, journalists from various local radio stations and media houses, civil society representatives, religious leaders, agronomists, and other environmental experts came together to share information and strategies reinforcing the importance of collaborative action in addressing environmental challenges.
The first group, discussed radio as a key medium for communicating climate change and environmental issues. A highlight of this discussion was how local radio stations can simplify and disseminate complex climate information to communities.
Another key point was the importance of fact-based environmental reporting which requires collaboration between environmental experts, journalists and local communities.
Success stories of radio programmes influencing positive environmental practices were shared and Watetezi, which is part of the Environmental Defenders (ED) consortium alongside Terra FM interviewed Oscar Pascal, the conference team leader.
Pascal who is also a presenter for Good Morning Africa on Terra FM, put together a panel of journalists specializing in environmental reporting.
For Pascal, quality environmental reporting is a passion, as his Good Morning Africa program combines sports reporting with the environment.
On one of the panels, the team at Terra FM brought together journalist specialising in environmental reporting, media program directors, climate change experts from civil society and local universities, a community leader, farmer representative and youth activists focused on the environment.
These experts focused their discussion on linking climate change to local food security and livelihoods, highlighting sustainable agricultural practices and radio’s role in climate change adaptation.
The experts also discussed addressing inequalities occasioned by climate change and the concept of “climate justice” through community broadcasts and mobilizing local stakeholders (women, youth, and civil society) via radio campaigns.
According to Pascal, one lesson from the conference at the AIC Church in Ramogi Chawa was the realization that Terra FM now understands how communities in the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Albertine region in Uganda, receive their broadcasts.
This helps shape the language used by presenters and supports programing to decide the best time for organizing radio talk shows for environmental education.
The conference recommended morning hours because most people tune in and listen after waking up and during the process of preparing for work.
The discourses also highlighted the challenge of brown envelops among journalists because when a journalist embraces such an uncouth vice, he will end up misleading people, as the prominent ones involved in environmental degradation, will corrupt the stories and cover up on negative effects of mining to the community.
The subject in this panel, “The radio, an essential way to communicate about climate change and the problematic environment”.
The points which informed the discussion in this panel were to see how local radio stations can simplify and disseminate complex information on the climate to communities, to highlight the importance of environmental story based on facts, and to show the possibility of collaboration between environmental experts, journalists and local communities.
After discussion and debate, the panelists vowed to simplify and disseminate complex information on the climate. One way of journalists simplifying climate information is through the prioritization of vox pops, which is a good way of presenting complex issues by meeting people in the community and collecting their points of view. The vox pops are paired with the important and informative voices of environmental and climate change experts.
Concerning the importance of reporting news on environmental issues, panelists noted that these reports help the community to be aware of the danger they are facing.
Continuing in the series, the panelists added that the environmental stories educate the community on different species that surround them. Such lessons encourage the community to preserve biodiversity by adopting eco-friendly practices.
Experts, community leaders and journalists contended that it is essential to know the language of the environment, the coverage area of the radio, the targeted audience and find out the time of great listenership.
Panelists gave examples of the success of the radio programing that resulted in the creation of small groups of environmental activist. The small groups fight tirelessly for environmental protection and the return of some species of animals in certain regions,
Third panel talking points
The third panel discussed Safety and Security of Journalists: Working Conditions in Climate Reporting.
Participants acknowledged numerous challenges. These included a lack of adequate environmental training, hindering journalists’ ability to effectively report on these issues. Insufficient knowledge of new technologies further compounded the problem.
In Eastern DRC and Uganda’s Albertine region, access to certain areas is restricted due to insecurity, states sensitivity over private individuals reaching some mining areas and access to environmental information is often limited due to political pressure.
Logistical and financial constraints hampered journalists’ daily work. Finally, a general lack of public interest and poor perception of environmental information presents an additional obstacle.
Regarding best practices and strategies for ensuring journalist safety and press freedom, panelists advocated for the expansion and enforcement of legal protections guaranteeing press freedom.
They also called for the development of strategies and resources to support journalists reporting on climate change. Journalists from various local Mahagi radio stations suggested that each newsroom identify and support at least one journalist specializing in environmental and climate reporting.
They emphasised prioritising information, urgency, and giving voice to relevant actors and experts in the field, while engaging with and challenging sources.
Panelists proposed creating a collaborative network of journalists and environmentalists and suggested a partnership with Environmental Defenders to fund Mahagi initiatives.
The panelists focused on the role of local authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS) and legal frameworks in the protection of journalists.
They requested that the authorities ensure the safety of journalists, to organise the sessions of awareness on climate issues and NGOS to support the radios in the fight against climate change.
Fourth panel talking points
The fourth and final panel explored the relationship between radio and community development, focusing on mobilising for peace, security, and collective action.
The panel discussed how radio can be used to consolidate peace and resolve conflicts, the involvement of various actors (religious leaders, youth, and women) in community development initiatives, radio’s contribution to local governance and civic education, and community mobilisation.
Panelists also discussed future perspectives, including improving community radio infrastructure for broader impact.
Following the discussion, panelists observed that some listeners do not follow the advice given on the radio.
They expressed hope that radio would amplify the voices of the population, actively promote peace, that information would be freely disseminated, that and that journalists would adhere to their professional code of ethics.
Panelists further suggested that radio stations provide more airtime to religious leaders and civil society leaders to promote peace. They also acknowledged radio’s potential to either promote or discourage positive behaviour.
Concerning the involvement of religious leaders, women, and other stakeholders in the community development initiatives, the panelists advocated for the awareness campaign through conferences or any other kind of meeting.
They requested that biblical excerpts and registration announcements be broadcast on local radio to ensure accessibility to all.
The three-day World Radio Day celebration at Terra FM in collaboration with Environmental Defenders highlighted the critical role of radio in driving climate awareness, fostering community engagement, and amplifying the voices of environmental advocates. Through insightful panel discussions, experts, journalists, and community leaders recognized the power of radio in simplifying complex climate issues, promoting environmental justice, and mobilizing grassroots action.
Key takeaways from the conference included the need for fact based environmental reporting, collaborative efforts between journalists and climate experts, and strategic programming to maximize listener engagement. The discussions also underscored challenges faced by journalists, including safety concerns, lack of resources, and political constraints, calling for stronger protections and partnerships to support climate reporting. Furthermore, the role of radio in community development, peacebuilding, and governance was emphasized, encouraging greater involvement from religious leaders, civil society, and local authorities.
Environmental Defenders, through its Terra FM initiative, remains committed to strengthening community driven environmental journalism and advocacy in the Congo Basin and the Albertine region. As part of its broader mission, Environmental Defenders work to protect biodiversity, support environmental human rights defenders, and promote sustainable livelihoods. To learn more about our impactful initiatives, visit www.watetezi.org.
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