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By Lovemore Chazingwa
Climate stories hitting newsrooms are usually minimal and at the same time boring to audiences, a leading editor has noted.
Zimpapers flagship publication, The Herald, Night Editor Isdore Guvamombe made the remarks in outlining his expectations at the ongoing media workshop on Progress In Phasing Out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), in Kadoma today May 31, 2022.
“I’m the owl of the national paper The Herald. As the Night Editor, I’ve observed that the environment story is very limited in the newsrooms. When it comes, it is boring and does not compete with other stories. When I look at stories I also consider the interest of the readers. We also expect reporters to craft and submit attractive stories that can compete with others in the paper,” he said.
A communique from the organizers of the workshop outlined the objective of the training Indaba thus, “The workshop is organized against the background of the Montreal Protocol on ODS which was adopted by the international community on September 6, 1987. The main objective of the Montreal Protocol is to gradually reduce and eventually eliminate the production and consumption of man-made chemicals that deplete the ozone layer thereby contributing to global warming.
“Since the entry into force of the Montreal Protocol, a lot of progress has been made in eliminating the production and use of ODS globally. Up to 99.9 percent of the substances that deplete the ozone layer have been completely phased out,” the radar from the Ministry of Environment said.
Adding: “The workshop will raise awareness among media practitioners so that they can sensitize stakeholders on developments under the Montreal Protocol and help the country to remain in compliance with the protocol provisions. The important workshop is biased toward providing a platform to enable journalists to learn about the successes which have been achieved in phasing out ODS in the various sectors. It will also help the Government to raise awareness among the public on ozone layer protection measures.”
Ozone project manager under the National Ozone Unit in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, George Chaumba emphasized the need to report more accurately on the environment in order to increase informed awareness of these issues.
He also echoed sentiments on compiling interesting stories for them to find more readership and listenership.
According to the ozone projects expert, the stories can then be able to grab front-page space. Chaumba highlighted that environmental stories cut across all sectors of the economy.
About twenty-five journalists from across the country are attending the conference.
The workshop is partnered with Zimra, the Ministry of Energy, and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.