Ecological journalism within the goals of sustainable development

Global climate change and local environmental problems became the main educational trajectory of the five-day course for journalists. More than fifty media professionals have improved their environmental knowledge by listening to lectures for journalists specializing in the environmental field.

This course is conducted as part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, concluded in 2020.

This event brought together scientists, journalists and environmental volunteers to discuss such topics as coverage of environmental problems in the media, environmental education and upbringing, waste disposal, environmental protection, improving environmental culture, etc.

The module for enhancing environmental literacy, mastering media tools for the preparation of journalistic materials on environmental issues covered the creative complex.

Representative of the UN Global Communications Department of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Head of the Bureau of Information Vlastimil Samek noted: “Dissemination of environmental information among residents is a great responsibility. A special place in the formation of ecological thinking is occupied by specialized departments. Ecology is a huge planet. Therefore, information and knowledge about it should be widely disseminated and publicly available. Society is interested in questions about what kind of air breathes and what kind of water is consumed by the world's eight billion people. The reliability of the data and their basis on official sources form the correct understanding of the environment."

Communication and Information National Professional Officer of the UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Sergey Karpov presented educational programs in environmental journalism within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. Scientists from the Chair of Print and Electronic Media and the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development, the community of practicing ecologists, have covered a complex from theoretical problems to practical skills.

The journalists studied from the vectors of media coverage of environmental issues to the reliability of information in the field of ecology and the skills of building multimedia storytelling on environmental topics. How should the topic of ecology be covered in news agencies? What are the tools to validate the data? What is an effective messenger for raising the environmental awareness and culture of residents? What are the basics of environmental education and upbringing?

Undoubtedly, there are a lot of environmental problems, but this applies to the life of every person. Experts widely discussed professional issues, from the explanation of the new environmental code of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the topics often mentioned in the media, such as pollution of the biosphere, ecotoxicants, protection from emergencies, environmental risks, assessment of environmental footprints. In laboratory conditions, the journalists analyzed the organoleptic characteristics of the water.

The event ended with a minimum presented to journalists - an ecotour around the campus, where they had the opportunity to visit the biomuseum, a zone of green technologies.

Exhibition of books and media materials on the topic “Ecology. Sustainable Development Goals. Journalism "of the Foundation of the Scientific Library of Al-Farabi KazNU, the photo exhibition of Asylkhan Abdraim "The Unique Nature of Kazakhstan" also strengthened the methodological, visual module of the event.

This year, a new educational program of the scientific and pedagogical direction "Environmental journalism" will be opened among the specialized departments. Also, at the initiative of the participants, it was proposed to create a national network of journalists covering economic topics.

A lot of problems have accumulated in the field of ecology. This proves the need for the unity of environmental scientists, journalists and volunteers in development of new knowledge and skills.

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