Staff Reporter
Harare Polytechnic, in collaboration with Fojo Media Institute, has rolled out a targeted climate change reporting course for journalism students — a move that supports the Government's efforts to build a climate-literate society.
The training, conducted recently at the School of Media and Mass Communication Studies, is part of Fojo’s Strengthening Media Through Journalism Education Programme, supported by the Embassy of Sweden under the Media Nexus initiative.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Fojo Media Institute Programme Manager for Zimbabwe, Jean Nyaradzo Mujati, said the training responds to the national need for credible climate communication.
“There was a training for media students on reporting and accurately disseminating information about climate change at Harare Polytechnic. I think this is a great step that could positively impact the media industry,” she said.
Ms Mujati stressed that climate reporting is no longer a niche, but a necessity in today’s media landscape.
“It will help future journalists improve the accuracy and depth of climate reporting, which is crucial in informing the public and combating misinformation,” she added.
The course complements Government initiatives such as the National Climate Policy and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which highlight the importance of public awareness and access to reliable climate information.
“This initiative directly supports the Government’s goal of building a climate-aware society. Strong media coverage that is rooted in fact and context can help communities understand and respond to climate challenges,” said Ms Mujati.
Fojo, affiliated with Linnaeus University in Sweden, has a long-standing Memorandum of Understanding with Harare Polytechnic. Through this partnership, Fojo supports specialised short courses in areas such as environmental reporting, investigative journalism, data journalism, fact-checking, and community broadcasting.
“We have been funding short courses that benefit working journalists, students, and lecturers. This includes the recent climate change course, which was actually proposed by Harare Polytechnic,” she said.
Mujati emphasised the need for journalism schools to adapt to both global and local realities.
“Journalism schools need to incorporate relevant topics within their curricula, such as how to report on climate,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of long-term investment in institutions and educators.
“Investing in educators and institutions offers a sustainable and long-term solution for equipping students and working journalists with critical skills and tools in today’s rapidly evolving media environment, which demands new approaches to training,” Ms Mujati said.
Fojo’s global mission is to strengthen journalism in support of democracy and sustainability.
“We believe that by strengthening the professionalism of journalists, we are contributing to a more informed, democratic, and sustainable world,” she added. “This training is not just about skills. It is about empowering the next generation of journalists to play their part in Zimbabwe’s climate resilience and sustainable development.”
As Zimbabwe intensifies its response to climate change, initiatives such as these underscore the critical role of journalism education in shaping informed and engaged citizens a key pillar in achieving national development goals.
