‘We can make a big difference’: UEA gives budding journalists chance to report on COP26
By: Communications
As world leaders turn their attention to the future of the planet in Glasgow this week, the University of East Anglia (UEA) is amplifying the voices of the region’s journalists of the future to report on the COP26 climate conference.
UEA’s Outreach team has partnered up with schools and colleges across the South East to launch Report For The Future, a project giving Year 10-13 students the opportunity to write up a daily report on the COP26 summit.
As part of Report For The Future, 15 students have been trained on climate journalism, report writing and how to speak for the future, before each being assigned to watch a day of the conference remotely and write up a one-page report containing a factual summary of the day and the implications for their future.
Between them the students will cover all 12 days of COP26 and once all the reports are completed, they will be collated to create a single piece, which will be shared with participants, schools, the University, and across the region.
As well as being a means for the young volunteers to engage with climate change and raise their voice about their future, it’s also hoped the project will kickstart, or further, an interest in journalism, with student journalists from UEA student newspaper Concrete helping to deliver the training.
Gabriella Gasparro, a Year 13 student at Lowestoft Sixth Form, said: “For me, taking part holds a great responsibility to make sure my generation is heard, and that our concerns over our planet are taken seriously. I believe when enough people put in the effort to make a positive change, that we can make a big difference.”
Sara Skarp, coordinator for Project Change at UEA, said: “Climate change is the dominant issue that concerns younger generations today and this gives them an opportunity to raise their voice for their own future, and to educate others at the same time. The aim is that Report For The Future creates reporters of the future and climate conscious ones at that.
“As well as that, they’re gaining invaluable experience and knowledge of some of the skills needed to work in the media: covering an event, reporting the facts, working to a deadline and writing in a concise and informative manner. Simultaneously, we want them to reflect on how the pledges and decisions at COP26 will affect their future. We have a fantastic group of enthusiastic young people take part and it’s quite heartening to feel that our future is in good hands.”
Report For The Future is all part of Project Change, the youth element of the University’s Climate of Change campaign, which launched in July and aims to engage local young people in climate change discussions, while providing a platform through which to amplify the youth voice. Beyond Report For The Future, Project Change also offers climate change workshops, learning resources and competitions.
For more information on Report For The Future and more, visit the Project Change website. For information on UEA’s climate story, visit ClimateUEA.
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