Journalists in developing countries now have unprecedented opportunities, thanks to new technologies and political change. But few have the tools to give the environment and sustainable development issues their proper place at the centre of public debate.  This project aims to fill that gap by helping them acquire the skills they need for high-quality environmental reporting.

The Forum is working jointly with Reuters Foundation - which has for some years provided a full program of courses for journalists using highly-experienced Reuters media staff and other instructors - to set up appropriate training.  These courses show participants how to increase their understanding of technical subjects and to research them more effectively; how to find relevant and updated information and to evaluate its sources; how to present complex material in an attractive way for their audience; and how to balance objectivity and impact.

Each course combines theory with practical exercises. Trainees gain an understanding of the basic concepts that underlie most environmental and sustainable development issues - such as the linkages between environment and poverty reduction, scarcity issues, natural resource management and technological advances.  To date there have been 7 courses held.

1. Bogota, Colombia



The first course was held in Bogota, Colombia in March 2001, attended by journalists from Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Peru and the host country.  Led by Reuters Foundation journalism instructor Oliver Wates, it explored how environmental issues could be covered from business perspectives, including the cost effectiveness of sustainable development.  Addresses from guest speakers were interspersed with practical writing exercises on subjects ranging from forest fires, genetically modified foods, population issues and the impact of technologies.  The course was jointly funded by the Forum, the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and Reuters Foundation. For an overview go here click here.

2. Berlin, Germany
A course was held in Berlin in December 2001 at the Sony Center from the 3rd to the 7th of December.  Twelve journalists took part, including eight from Middle- and Eastern Europe.  The seminars consisted of both theoretical and very hands-on practical exercises.  The participants were given the opportunity to learn about the current status in the development of fuel cells as well as a chance to visit the international Berlin Environmental Film Festival.  A detailed report can be downloaded here: click here

3. London, United Kingdom
From the 10th through 14th of June, 2002, an international group of twelve journalists from Argentina, the Balkans, Chile, Portugal, and Sri Lanka took part in the third journalists training course.  The program consisted of a mix of practical and theoretical exercises that provided the journalists with a chance to increase their competence in the fields of research and reporting.  A detailed report can be downloaded here: REPORT LONDON (sorry, only available in German).

4. Grahamstown, South Africa
Thirteen Journalists from various African countries were given the opportunity to be trained by Reuters from the 8-12 of July 2002 in South Africa in preparation for to the World Summit on Sustainable Development taking place in Johannesburg later that year. A detailed report can be downloaded here: REPORT GRAHAMSTOWN (sorry, only available in German).  For more details click here.

5. Durban, South Africa
Our fifth workshop, organized along with Reuters and IUCN took place concurrently with the World Parks Congress from the 8th through the 17 of September 2003.  Twelve journalists from India, Malaysia, Brazil, Dubai, Croatia, Russia, Lebanon, Trinidad and Tobago, Sierra Leone, and Zambia gathered to learn methods to improve their environmental reporting.  Participants were given hands-on experience by reporting from the World Parks Congress and filing corresponding stories to their respective news agencies and publications.  The latest course was held in Durban, South Africa, during the IUCN World Parks Congress, September 8-17 2003. For more information click here.

6. New Delhi, India
On the 3rd and 4th of February 2004, Fourteen Indian journalists took part in a training seminar immediately precedent to the Delhi Summit on Sustainable Development.  Prior to devoting their energies to reporting on the Summit, they were given a chance to sharpen their skills and with the subjects of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere, Agenda 21, and Outdoor Air Pollution.  A short overview is available here: OVERVIEW DELHI

7. Budapest, Hungary
On 20-21, June 2004, fourteen journalists from Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Estonia, Romania, and Turkey attended a two-day training course entitled, Media Briefing and Training Workshop on Environment and Health.  The journalists were trained is using advanced reporting techniques by a trainer from Reuter's Foundation as well as the editor of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) greenHORIZON magazine. Both organizations are Bellagio Forum members.  A full report on the entire event is available here: REPORT BUDAPEST

8. Osnabrück, Germany

From October 12-14, journalists from Germany, Canada, Slovakia, and the Czeck Republic met in Osnabrück to hone their skills and learn how to better report on and incorporate environmental themes into their writing.  The course, organized by the Reuters Foundation and the Bellagio Forum, was taught by veteran journalist Colin McIntyre.  The trainees represented such diverse organizations as the Mlada fronta Dnes in the Czech Republic, the Frankfurter Rundschau, Norddeutsche Rundfunk, SME in Slovakia and Al Jazeera International.

For more details about future such courses, and application forms, visit Reuters Foundation's website: www.foundation.reuters.com which has journalism training section with information on its workshops, including those sponsored by BFSD.