CoastalLab 1.0

Empowering Journalists for Climate Change Reporting

Coastal Lab 1.0, a three-day intensive training program, equipped journalists and media professionals with the skills and knowledge to report on the impacts of climate change in coastal regions. Held in Khulna, a region deeply affected by environmental change, the workshop gave participants the tools to tell stories that capture the realities of vulnerable coastal communities. By focusing on both local and global narratives, the training helped connect first-hand experiences to the broader climate conversation, so that these communities reached national and international platforms.

Climate change continues to pose severe challenges to Bangladesh's coastal regions, with rising sea levels, increasing salinity, and frequent natural disasters threatening livelihoods. Despite these pressing issues, the stories of those affected often remain underreported. Recognizing the role of journalists in documenting these changes, Coastal Lab 1.0 aimed to build their capacity to produce accurate, in-depth, and impactful climate reporting.

The workshop brought together 22 participants, including local journalists and Mass Communication and Journalism students from Khulna University. Through practical and theoretical sessions, they received hands-on training in climate change journalism, investigative reporting, and combatting misinformation. Expert-led discussions and interactive exercises helped them refine their storytelling so their reporting can influence public awareness and policy discussions.

Coastal Voices managed all logistics, accommodation, and meals, so participants could focus entirely on learning and collaboration. The workshop built a strong sense of community among attendees and encouraged them to keep reporting on climate change with accuracy and depth.

Participants left with stronger skills, deeper insights, and a renewed commitment to bringing coastal climate stories into media and policy discussions.

Session Highlights

Voices from the Shore: Navigating Community Journalism in Coastal Region

This session focused on the role of community journalism in making sure the voices of coastal communities affected by climate change are heard. Participants explored strategies for building trust and engaging with local populations, learning how to document firsthand accounts of environmental changes and adaptation efforts. Through interactive discussions and case studies, they examined successful examples of community-driven storytelling and its impact on public discourse and policy. The session stressed sensitivity in reporting, ethical considerations, and ways to represent community perspectives accurately and powerfully.

Trainer Profile

Rafiqul Islam Montu

A leading Bangladeshi freelance journalist specializing in climate and coastal reporting for over three decades. His work on environmental and human rights issues has appeared in The Guardian, Thomson Reuters, and Eco-Business. He has received 20 national and international awards, including UNICEF's Meena Award, authored two books, and completed fellowships with Internews and the Center for Sustainable Development.

Tales from the Delta: Reporting Climate Realities in South-Western Bangladesh

This session tackled the environmental challenges of South-Western Bangladesh, a region at the forefront of climate change. Participants learned about the impact of rising sea levels, increased salinity, and displacement due to extreme weather events. It introduced field reporting techniques, including interviewing affected communities, using scientific data to support stories, and presenting complex environmental issues to diverse audiences. Participants left with story ideas rooted in local realities.

Trainer Profile

Abu Hena Mostafa Jamal (Poplu)

A seasoned broadcast journalist and coastal activist with nearly 20 years of experience, and Special Correspondent at Machranga Television since 2019. An IVLP alumnus, he is also a guest lecturer at Khulna University's Mass Communication and Journalism Discipline. As President of Coastal Voice of Bangladesh and a Climate Justice Forum member, he supports coastal journalism and media professionals. His global participation includes the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Platform and the Global Water Conference.

Investigative Journalism in Climate Reporting: Uncovering the Truth Behind Climate Issues

This session covered the principles and practices of investigative journalism, with a focus on the hidden truths behind climate change impacts. Participants were introduced to data journalism techniques, fact-checking tools, and methods for verifying sources. Trainers showed how to track climate-related corruption, corporate accountability, and government policies. Through practical exercises, attendees practiced developing story pitches, mapping sources, and structuring in-depth climate reports.

Trainer Profile

Md. Shariful Islam

Assistant Professor in Mass Communication and Journalism at Khulna University, with bachelor's and master's degrees from Dhaka University. He began his career as a crime reporter at The Daily Samakal, later moving to academia as a lecturer at Daffodil International University. An active freelance trainer and columnist, he has published research nationally and internationally.

Clearing the Fog: Combatting Climate Misinformation in the Digital Age

This session equipped participants with the skills to identify, counter, and report on climate misinformation. Trainers covered common climate myths, misleading narratives, and deliberate disinformation campaigns, and explained the role of social media algorithms in spreading false claims. Participants practiced with fact-checking tools and AI-driven verification techniques, and learned how to debunk viral climate hoaxes and communicate accurate information in an accessible way.

Trainer Profile

Md. Akil Khan

A media literacy and fact-checking trainer who works with Rumor Scanner, a leading fact-checking organization in Bangladesh. He specializes in misinformation across climate, environmental, health, and political topics, and has run extensive workshops, especially in coastal areas, using media literacy as a tool for social empowerment.

On-the-Go Reporting: MOJO Methods for Climate Change Stories

This hands-on session introduced Mobile Journalism (MOJO) techniques for capturing, editing, and publishing climate change stories directly from the field. Trainers demonstrated smartphones, portable microphones, and editing apps, so journalists can produce high-quality visual and audio content with minimal equipment. Participants practiced shooting, editing, and publishing on digital platforms, and gained practical skills for faster, more effective climate reporting.

Trainer Profile

Dr. Abdul Kabil Khan

Associate professor at Daffodil International University's Department of Journalism and visiting faculty at Chandigarh University. He wrote Bangladesh's first mobile journalism book, holds a Ph.D. from Moscow's Peoples' Friendship University, and has trained over 1,500 journalists on mobile journalism, social media, and digital-first journalism.

Think Globally, Report Locally: Climate Change Narratives in the Digital Age

This session encouraged participants to place local climate stories within the global climate discourse. Trainers discussed how climate reporting can influence policy, international aid, and global awareness, and how to frame stories for international audiences, including using global data and collaborating with international media. Case studies showed how climate storytelling has led to policy changes and increased awareness.

Trainer Profile

Sadiqur Rahman

A Bangladeshi journalist with over 12 years of experience covering climate change, biodiversity, and livelihood issues. He won the Special Award for Investigative Journalism on Renewable Energy (2023), completed a Thomson Reuters fellowship in Vietnam on climate funding (2018) and a Climate Action Network fellowship, and is currently in the Oxford Climate Journalism Network's six-month training program.

Empowered By

The U.S. Embassy Dhaka and GYLC

This initiative was made possible by funding and strategic support from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Global Youth Leadership Center.

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