New two-week course offers solutions journalism approaches to improve climate reporting; sign up now for free

As climate change fuels anxiety and doubt about finding solutions to mitigate its impact, much of the current news coverage has led to feelings of disengagement. Solutions journalism helps journalists address this by focusing on effective responses and successful strategies, offering a balanced narrative that highlights actionable solutions and inspires positive change. 

Learn to incorporate solutions journalism techniques in your climate reporting in a new free, online course from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas. “Climate Solutions Journalism: A Community-informed & Equity-focused Approach,” offered in partnership with The Solutions Journalism Network, will equip you to make a real impact by focusing on practical solutions for everyday climate issues. You’ll craft stories that resonate with your audience, utilizing formats like FAQs and relatable narratives to drive meaningful action and engagement.

This two-week course, from August 19 to September 1, 2024, will be led by Hugo Balta, publisher of the Latino News Network (LNN) and an accredited solutions journalism trainer.

Watch the video with our instructor Hugo Balta for more details.

In this course, you’ll explore how solutions journalism can transform your approach to climate coverage by focusing on actionable responses and innovative solutions. Perfect for journalists eager to enrich their reporting with compelling, evidence-based narratives, this course will help you create stories that not only inform but inspire action.

Course participants will tackle understanding and applying the principles of solutions journalism to climate issues, crafting stories that highlight responses and solutions rather than just problems, and utilizing data and community insights to enhance their reporting.

Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from leading experts through video interviews with Steve MacLaughlin, Emmy-winning meteorologist at NBC6, South Florida, and Swati Sanyal Tarafdar, independent journalist and accredited Solutions Journalism trainer.

Delivered asynchronously, this two-week course offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace while following a structured weekly schedule. Additionally, our instructor Hugo Balta will host live office hours that will be recorded for those who can’t attend in real-time.

Course Structure:

• Module 1 – Covering climate change through a solutions and data lens: Examines how negative climate change coverage can deter action and how solutions-based journalism offers a more balanced perspective.
• Module 2 – Gain practical tips for effective climate solutions journalism: Focuses on how journalists can lead the climate change conversation and effectively incorporate climate information into their stories.

This two-week course is designed to offer a concentrated, impactful learning experience with engaging video lectures, readings, quizzes, and dynamic discussion forums.
Upon successful completion of course requirements, participants are eligible for a free certificate of completion. No formal academic credit is associated with the certificate.

Register today and transform your approach to climate change reporting.