14 Journalists from media organizations across Vanuatu today took part in the Pacific GeoJournalism Training on Climate Change, hosted by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) in partnership with the Media Association of Vanuatu (MAV) and the Vanuatu Ministry of Climate Change.

The workshop is part of the Pacific GeoJournalism Project funded by USAID Pacific American Climate Fund and implemented by EJN in partnership with the Pacific Alliance of Development Journalists, with technical support by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

The Director for the Department of Climate Change, David Gibson, officially opened the training and emphasized on the value of media and information in advancing understanding climate change in Vanuatu.

James Fahn, Executive Director of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, explained some of the science behind climate change, highlighted the value of better reporting of climate change in the Pacific, and led discussion on tips to improve reporting of the issue. “It is vital for journalists in the region to be able to communicate the importance of resilience and ways to achieve it from their communities.”

The Pacific GeoJournalism Project has included training workshops in Samoa, Fiji and Vanuatu, development of the Pasifika website for Pacific journalists on climate change, and story grant opportunities for reporting.

“MAV is excited about this opportunity and wish to thank the organizers for including the journalists of Vanuatu in this important project,” said the President of Media Asosiasen blong Vanuatu, Evelyne Toa.

More than 60 Pacific journalists have already been involved in the trainings and story grants carried out by the Pacific GeoJournalism Project.

“Pacific journalists now have a platform to publish their climate stories at an international level and opportunities to report from environmental conferences and events through EJN,” said Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Pacific Coordinator for the project.