Nicaragua: Academic degree program for environmental journalists

Environmental pollution is one of Nicaragua's most pressing problems. Deforestation, the misuse of pesticides and inadequate recycling programs are damaging the eco-system as well as people’s health. Apart from sporadic campaigns and initiatives – such as the new recycling plant on Central America's largest dumpsite, La Chureca – there are few encouraging prospects.

"People aren’t sufficiently aware of environmental issues in Nicaragua," says Cecilia Martinez, a participant in the degree program, "so we’ve got a lot of work to do." She's hoping that with new multimedia tools she can raise awareness and provide impetus for social change. Martinez is a journalist and has spent several years in the city of Matagalpa working primarily for radio. "People are increasingly online, especially the young ones. As journalists we need new approaches and this program is giving me the skills to do that."

DW Akademie project manager and trainer, David Olmos, developed the degree program together with the Universidad de Managua (UdeM). He’s hoping that media reports on environmental issues will become more professional. "Our focus is to make these issues more visible and enable journalists to work with multimedia tools." The goal, he says, is for participants to share their new skills with colleagues at work so that environmental issues receive more coverage in all types of media.

In five modules spread over six months participants will learn the basics of environmental journalism, journalism ethics and technical skills. DW Akademie conducted the first two-week module in June. Participants learned the basics of online journalism and used various multimedia programs for their research projects.

DW Akademie trainer Steffen Leidel

The group has created a new blog which they'll use as a platform for reporting on a wide range of environmental topics. DW Akademie trainer, Steffen Leidel, emphasizes that traditional journalism can profit from the possibilities offered by new media - by visualizing data, for example, or interacting with users. "It's important to take advantage of these opportunities. With a blog and minimal technical effort you can be in touch with audiences all over the world."

The final module is scheduled for November. DW Akademie will be holding a TV journalism workshop on VJ reporting, and cable TV broadcaster Vos TV has agreed to air the reports.

This degree program is the first of its kind in Central America.