Empowering Women Journalists to Take Climate Reporting Beyond Disaster Coverage

By Beatrice Gondyi, Bauchi

Women journalists in Bauchi State have been urged to go beyond episodic disaster reporting and adopt a more sustained and solutions-driven approach to climate change coverage.

This call was made during a two-day training on climate change reporting, organized by Nigeria association of women journalists (NAWOJ) with support from Bauchi State Government, stressed the urgent need for the establishment of climate desks in newsrooms to give environmental issues consistent visibility.

The Facilitator, Malam Bello Belli noted that climate change is not only about floods, droughts, or heat waves, but also about how these realities affect agriculture, food security, health, livelihoods, and the overall development of communities.

“Empowering women journalists to take climate reporting beyond disaster coverage means equipping them with the knowledge and tools to tell stories that link climate change to everyday life,” he stated.
He said creating dedicated climate desks within media organizations will ensure regular reporting, in-depth analysis, and investigative features that highlight the human impact of environmental changes. They stressed that women journalists, because of their unique perspective, are well positioned to amplify the voices of vulnerable groups, especially women and children, who bear the brunt of climate-related challenges.

Participants at the training expressed their commitment to push for the creation of climate desks in their media outlets while pledging to give more attention to environmental stories that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They also called for greater collaboration with government agencies, civil society organizations, and research institutions to access reliable data and expert insights that will enrich their reportage.

The workshop concluded with a resolution that women journalists must become advocates of sustained climate coverage, shifting the narrative from reactive disaster reporting to proactive storytelling that inspires action and policy change.