Report climate change better

SO the United Nations COP26 climate change conference is over. Now the hard work of implementing what was agreed - and persuading reluctant governments to do at least as much as was agreed. As the conference President Alok Sharma said to the Guardian about the international process to keep the global temperature rise down to an only-moderately-disastrous 1.5°C: "We've absolutely kept it alive but the pulse is still weak.".

To help you report accurately and engagingly on the issues, London Freelance Branch is again offering a unique training opportunity. Now NUJ members can join an accredited course in carbon literacy for just £30. So book soon to avoid disappointment - and the first ten to sign up get £10 off!

Tuesday mornings, 18 January and 25 January - register
Wednesday mornings, 19 January and 26 January - register

The course is in four parts: a self-study session followed by a three-hour session led by Dr Arnott, and another session of self study (which should take an our or so) before the final ZOOM session for group activities and discussion.

The course has been customised to be useful to journalists. It includes some science basics of global heating, the greenhouse gases and their sources; some concepts and terminology, from "carbon footprints" to "scopes of emissions"; some jargon-busting; and communicating. Personal and professional angles are included, and discussion among participants encouraged.

Successful learners are certified "Carbon Literate" (an internationally-recognised qualification since the United Nations COP21 conference in Paris in 2015).

NUJ Scotland courses

We draw your attantion to these courses from NUJ Scotland in January.

Wednesday 19 January 10:00 – 16:00 Podcasting introduction
Monday 24 January 15:00 – 16:30 Search engine optimisation
Wednesday, 26 January 10:00 – 13:00 Social media for journalists

These cost £40 for a one-session course and £60 for two sessions and are open to members outside Scotland. To book your place, contact joanm@nuj.org.uk.

And investigative journalism

We also draw your attention to courses from the Centre for Investigative Journalism:

Digital Tools for Investigation - mornings, Friday 14 January and Tuesday 25 January
Finding Stories with Data - four mornings, 24, 25, 27, 28 January or four afternoons, 28 February and 1, 3, 4 March
Data-Driven Investigations - five mornings, 31 January - 4 February or five afternoons, 7 - 11 March

For more see the London Freelance Branch training page, linked below.

Branch training page