A one-day workshop on Climate Change reporting organised by Media Resource Centre, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change was held on Saturday at the conference hall of the directorate.
The workshop primarily focused on the topic 'River Systems in Manipur' with a brief detailed presentation by Senior consultant (Scientific) of the directorate, Manichandra Sanoujam.
Speaking on the occasion, renowned journalist and editor of Imphal Review of Arts and Politics Pradip Phanjoubam emphasised the need for journalists to stay updated on scientific knowledge with regards to climate change reporting.
"In order to report, journalists need to understand and simplify the science behind the issue and disseminate the information in a manner in which the public can easily catch on," he said.
He also pointed out the need for media persons to review the current literature available on the issue concerned.
He stated that media persons must digest and observe every angle possible before coming up with a story as a one-dimensional analysis of an issue may lead to tangled confusion.
"Specifically with river systems, we need to observe the consumption pattern of water brought on by demographic changes and cultural links which binds the people with rivers; there are several angles which can be explored but the two are often overlooked when discussing the rivers systems at present," he said.
He added that the behavioural pattern of people also needed much discourse to keep the news story well balanced.
Meanwhile, deputy director of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change T Brajakumar highlighted that the objective of the media fellowship programme under the directorate was to exhort the dissemination of complex environmental issues in an easy understandable tone.
"Climate change is a complex topic but we are hopeful that the media fellows will simplify the issue and aid in generating awareness among the masses," he said.
He emphasised the need for people to be in tune with their surroundings and stated that swift measures would exponentially help in avoiding mass destruction of the human species.
He highlighted that capacity building and resilience building needed to go hand in hand in order to properly maintain proper e-flow.
Senior journalist Sobhapati Samom, Sangai Express Daily editor (Manipuri) Khogendra Khomdram, media fellow recipients, several staff of AIR among others took part in the workshop.
