A recently concluded Training of Trainers Bootcamp in Boracay Island in the Philippines equipped journalists with skills for constructive climate reporting, emphasizing solutions and actionable storytelling. The event aimed to counter misinformation and inspire meaningful climate action in Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The event, held from February 23 to 26, 2025, in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan Province, Philippines, was organized by International Media Support (IMS), an international non-government organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Fyt, a community-oriented media outfit in the Philippines. The European Union, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the government of Norway supported the training. The bootcamp brought together 26 journalists from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most climate-sensitive regions and faces urgent environmental challenges. In the Philippines, stronger typhoons and rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, while Indonesia faces longer dry seasons, forest fires, and sinking cities like Jakarta. Malaysia is challenged by frequent flooding and deforestation, and droughts and upstream dam projects threaten Cambodia’s Mekong River. Traditional reporting of these concerns often falls short by focusing solely on the problems, leaving audiences overwhelmed and without actionable solutions.
Constructive climate reporting seeks to address these issues. This journalistic method emphasizes solutions, nuance, and dialogue, shifting the narrative from doom and gloom to actionable solutions. It empowers audiences to engage with climate issues meaningfully. The boot camp aimed to equip participants with the tools to train journalists in constructive climate reporting at national and local levels.
Henrik Grunnet, senior advisor at IMS and one of the bootcamp’s instructors, explained, “Constructive journalism is best suited for climate reporting because it shifts the narrative from mere catastrophe to actionable solutions. Traditional reporting often focuses on the dire consequences of climate change, which can lead to desensitization and disengagement. But, by highlighting climate justice and climate-driven solutions, we not only inform but also empower people.”
Constructive climate reporting does not ignore problems or promote a specific agenda. Instead, it presents balanced, fact-based stories that explore scalable and replicable solutions, provide context, and foster dialogue. This approach contrasts with traditional journalism, which often prioritizes sensationalism and negativity, leading to news avoidance and distrust among audiences.
Many people fail to act on climate issues because they do not fully understand the situation or feel overwhelmed by negative news. Constructive climate reporting addresses this gap in climate communication by providing solution-oriented coverage that empowers audiences to take action.
Bagja Hidayat, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tempo in Indonesia, highlights one of the key challenges in implementing constructive climate reporting: convincing newsroom management to embrace this transformative journalistic approach. After attending a similar training by IMS in Indonesia in 2023, Hidayat was determined to integrate these principles into his media outfit, a prominent Indonesian media group.
Hidayat got the approval of the Board of Directors, but an intense series of meetings was required to convince them that the shift should not be limited to one department but redefine the entire newsroom’s approach. Even after securing the management’s approval, the next hurdle was ensuring all journalists adopted the concept. Despite these challenges, Tempo now successfully applies constructive journalism, proving that persistence and vision can lead to meaningful change in climate reporting.
Aidilla Razak, Special Reports Editor of Malaysiakini, highlighted that for journalists to apply this method, they need to shift their mindsets and rethink how they approach storytelling. She said, “This involves recognizing the potential for stories to engage audiences differently and not just adhering to traditional formats. There is a need to rethink how stories are packaged and presented to engage new generations of audience.”
Yogi Tujuliarto, a CNN Indonesia correspondent, emphasized journalists’ evolving role: “With the rise of constructive journalism, our role has evolved. We are no longer just storytellers; we are game changers and should be part of the solution. Our new responsibility is to inspire and empower our audience.”
The course included lessons on understanding climate and environmental crises, taking a constructive approach to reporting, creating climate coverage strategies, and debunking misinformation and greenwashing. A special session explored using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data processing in climate reporting. The bootcamp concluded with a newsroom simulation, where participants worked together to craft constructive stories based on a landslide scenario, showcasing what they had learned from the training.
The constructive climate reporting bootcamp represents a significant step toward transforming climate reporting in Southeast Asia. By equipping journalists with the tools and mindset for constructive climate reporting, the event has fostered a new generation of storytellers who can inspire action, counter mis- and disinformation, and drive meaningful change. In a region challenged with the devastating impacts of climate change, this shift in journalistic approach is not just necessary; it is urgent.
