Climate communication must shift from conference rooms to digital platforms where audiences already engage, said Lead Convener of the TN Africa Digital Journalism Summit, Senanu Damilola Wemakor.
Speaking at the TN Africa Digital Journalism Summit held in Kenya, Wemakor emphasized that storytelling in the digital age must prioritize accessibility, relatability, and reach.
“Climate communication must not remain in conference rooms. It must move to smartphones, social media platforms, and digital communities where people engage daily, so that these people can drive policy to take action in rural communities, where the consequences are dire. he said.
The summit, themed Telling Africa’s Climate Change and Food Story in the Digital Age, brought together journalists, academics, climate advocates, and digital creators from across the region to explore storytelling approaches that amplify African climate narratives.
Wemakor announced the Story the Change initiative, a continental storytelling campaign designed to mobilize journalists and digital creators to produce climate-focused content.
“We want to put together in six months over a thousand content and online stories on climate change across the continent, and we want to reach at least 20 million people online,” he said.
He explained that the campaign seeks to encourage creator-led storytelling, multimedia journalism, and cross-border collaborations.
“When you go online, you have creators with two million followers, one million followers. What are they using these numbers for? This same audience can be used to project the message of climate change,” he added.
Panel discussions at the summit explored storytelling approaches for climate and food security communication. Panel One featured Dr. Winnie Ndeta Otsiulah, Joyce Koech, and Bonnke Museeve Mulaama.
Dr. Ndeta emphasized the role of communicators in shaping narratives.
“As communicators, as digital creators, we are the gatekeepers in communication. Yet, the dominant narratives that often paint Africa paint it as a victim and a backdrop for global grief,” she said.
“And we need to go down to the people… these solutions are not to remain in the papers that we publish and put in the library shelves,” she added.
Panel Two featured Miranda Gathecha, communications professional Tina Akal, and Wemakor.
Organizers say the Story the Change initiative will expand across African countries with opportunities for partnerships with international climate organizations and funding institutions.
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Source: The Newsroom Africa