Newly Green: A Course on the Green Recovery and Just Transition for Journalists

Estimated time commitment: 4-5 hours
Certificate of completion: Yes
Language: English

Amidst a looming economic recession, war in Ukraine and a Covid-19 pandemic that hasn't actually ended, it may be difficult for the public to imagine a global, environmentally focused economic recovery. But governments around the world have spent billions of US dollars on just such a thing in the wake of the pandemic, with a focus on averting the climate crisis. Suffice it to say, it's important journalists report on this subject, whether with a watchdog, solutions or other type of news reporting lens.

The Earth Journalism Network designed "Newly Green" to help journalists around the world better report on the "green recovery" (GR) and "just transition" (JT). The green recovery is the name given to a series of economic recovery measures aligned with achieving long-term climate change and sustainability objectives in the wake of the pandemic. Just transition is a framework that includes a range of social interventions needed to improve labor rights and livelihoods as economies shift to more sustainable production in response to the climate crisis.

Numerous exercises and examples are peppered throughout this course to ensure that learners hone their skills in pursuit of their own GR-related stories. Our hope is that reporters don't take this course just to pick up some interesting facts.

The course is self-paced (allowing participants to move at their own speed) and consists of engaging content (text, graphics, audio and videos), dynamic exercises and summary quizzes. The course has three modules:

• Module 1 includes both an introduction to the course and fundamental GR and JT concepts.  
• Module 2 covers current events and policies related to the GR and JT.  
• Module 3 introduces tools and frameworks that might be useful to a journalist's coverage of the GR and JT.

At the end of each module, learners will need to pass a quiz to gauge their understanding of the material. When learners reach the end of the course, they will undergo a final assessment and receive a certificate of course completion.

Learners will use the learning management system Moodle. If you have any further technical support questions regarding the course, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Also, here is an accompanying resource list to help you in your own reporting.

Banner image credit: Oksana Drachkovska.