From warmer temperatures and rising sea levels to increased hurricane intensity and unpredictable, extreme weather events – the countries of the Caribbean region are amongst the world’s most vulnerable to the worst impacts of climate change. For these countries, building resilience is not an option, but an urgent priority. The energy transition – reducing reliance on environmentally harmful, price-volatile, fossil fuels to power the region, and increasing renewable energy resources – is an essential part of securing a sustainable, resilient future for these nations, however change, so far, has been slow in pace and small in scale.
Caribbean journalists have an important role to play in tracking energy transition developments across the region, keeping the public informed, and holding decision-makers to account, however, there are still critical gaps in media coverage and public awareness, despite the urgency of the Caribbean’s need to embrace an energy transition.
That’s why we’re excited to launch this 2-part initiative and invest in Caribbean journalists by providing 40 journalists from Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago with the opportunity to participate in our innovative and hands-on Caribbean Energy Transition Workshop, featuring regional and global experts in energy transition and award-winning Caribbean journalists.
This Workshop will address the main lessons learned by the Climate Tracker Journalists Network and will allow the selection of a new batch of fellows to participate in a training, capacity building and mentoring program, the second cycle of our Caribbean Energy Transition Media Mentorship.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This online Workshop will engage journalists in expanding their knowledge of the Caribbean’s energy needs and resources, and the scientific, political, economic, human and social dimensions of the adaptation and resilience measures that will need to be taken as part of the region’s energy transition. It will also sharpen journalists’ skills in information gathering, reporting and explaining – to support them in communicating these complex issues with various audiences.
Our 40 workshop participants will benefit from an intensive, engaging, and highly interactive session and will receive certification as proof of all they’ve learned.
After the Workshop, each participant will be invited to submit a pitch/application to be one of the 9 fellows we select to move on to our Caribbean Energy Transition Media Mentorship.
THE MENTORSHIP
9 selected Fellows will work together with our experienced Caribbean team members throughout 6 group training sessions, to go deeper into the critical thematic issues surrounding energy transition in the region.
We will be with you each step of the way!
OUR EXPECTATIONS/YOUR DELIVERABLES
- You will be partnered with a mentor who will support you in producing and publishing 3 energy transition stories through the media you work with. Each story will then be republished on climatetrackercaribbean.org.
- You will also be supported to produce 1 short audiovisual piece for social media audiences about the energy transition in your country
- You will be invited to work with our Caribbean Podcast Editor to take part in at least one episode of our Caribbean Climate Calabash podcast
- You will be invited to lead one Instagram Live session through our Climate Tracker Caribbean Instagram profile
- You will be expected to attend each group training session and work together with your assigned mentor, meeting deadlines, and having open and honest communication with our team throughout the journey
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM US
- Workshop: Participate in a workshop that provides in-depth knowledge on energy transition
- Training: If you are one of the 9 selected Fellows, you will gain advanced journalistic techniques and learn the proper use of context and framing for energy transition reporting by participating in our 6 group training sessions
- Capacity-Building: Enhance your skills with targeted capacity-building sessions
- Mentoring and Publishing: Benefit from mentoring by experienced journalists and publish your work on our platform. We will support you every step of the way
- Stipend: Each selected fellow will receive an overall stipend of USD $900 for the production of all 3 stories and one video
WE INVITE YOU TO APPLY IF YOU’RE…
- A Caribbean journalist interested in covering climate change and connected issues
- A Caribbean journalist with some experience in covering environmental issues but needs some guidance and training in reporting on the energy transition
- A Caribbean media/journalism student with some publications under your belt, interested in gaining knowledge and certification in energy transition reporting
- Able to commit to attending the 2-hour Workshop
- Able to commit to meeting regularly with your assigned mentor
- Able to commit to the 6 group training sessions (expected to last 3 hours and take place every other week over 3 months (with 1 additional week for orientation))
- From Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, or Trinidad and Tobago
- Have some level of experience in social media video content creation
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS FOR THE CARIBBEAN
This programme is aimed at Caribbean journalists from Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. This cycle will address the common challenges these countries face as they transition from high fossil fuel dependence to sustainable energy sources. Journalists will be encouraged to collaborate and address regional Caribbean perspectives on energy transition.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
- Virtual Workshop: At least 40 journalists from Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago will participate in a virtual workshop on energy transition coverage. This workshop will highlight the main lessons learned by the Climate Tracker Journalists Network and select a new batch of fellows for advanced training
- Advanced Training: 9 participants will receive specialised training, including advanced journalistic techniques and the proper use of context and framing for energy transition reporting
- Training Sessions: 6 comprehensive training sessions will be delivered to the selected journalists
- Published Articles: Each Fellow will publish 3 original articles on the Climate Tracker Caribbean website
- Social Media Content: Fellows will produce 9 short audiovisual pieces for social media audiences, showcasing their energy transition stories
ENERGY TRANSITION WORKSHOP AND MEDIA MENTORSHIP TIMELINE
Deadline to register for the Caribbean Energy Transition Workshop 📅 Friday 6th September, 2024 (11:59pm AST time)
🌟 Caribbean Energy Transition Workshop | 📅 Thursday 19th September, 2024
🕘 Tentatively scheduled for 11am – 2pm (AST time)
🚀 Caribbean Energy Transition Media Mentorship’s Pitching/Application Period | 📅 Friday 20th September – Wednesday 25th September, 2024
📋 Selection of 9 Energy Transition Fellows by Friday 27th September, 2024
📚 Mentorship’s Group Training Sessions | 🕕 Tentatively scheduled for 6pm – 8pm (AST time) on the following dates:
- Session 1: Thursday 3rd October, 2024
- Session 2: Thursday 24th October, 2024
- Session 3: Thursday 7th November, 2024
- Session 4: Thursday 21st November, 2024
- Session 5: Thursday 5th December, 2024
- Session 6 : Thursday 19th December, 2024
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN?
By joining our Energy Transition Mentorship, you will:
- Enhance your skills: Learn from experts and gain advanced techniques to improve your reporting
- Collaborate regionally: Work with fellow journalists across the Caribbean and address common challenges together
- Make an impact: Contribute to raising awareness and driving change in energy policies and practices in your region
- Expand your reach: Publish your work on a recognized platform and reach a wider audience
WE HOPE YOU’RE INTERESTED! HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT
If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to reach out to:
Dizzanne Billy – Caribbean Regional Director (dizzanne@climatetracker.org ) and Camol Walker – Caribbean Communications Officer (camol@climatetracker.org).
Let’s work together to create a sustainable future for the Caribbean!
ABOUT CLIMATE TRACKER
Climate Tracker (CT) is an international non-profit organisation, aiming to support, train and incentivise better climate journalism globally. We believe in the power of journalism but recognise that many young journalists don’t have the training, resources or support to identify and tell the climate stories they want to. We also recognise that this challenge is often greatest in the countries hardest hit by climate change. To address this, we:
- Provide training and fellowships for young journalists around the world to tell better climate stories locally
- Conduct action-oriented media research to better understand the biggest challenges, trends, and obstacles to powerful climate reporting around the world
- Fund young journalists to report on the world’s most pressing issues and cover the world’s biggest moments, UN negotiations and conferences
- Support global collaboration
