Skip to content Skip to navigation

Media workshop envirnment pollution

By AT News |

Deteriorating air quality in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) region and the resulting impacts requires urgent attention from governments, policy makers, scientists, stakeholders and the public. Atmospheric issues are often neglected at policy making and local levels. The Atmosphere Initiative at ICIMOD, realizing the media’s important role in raising public awareness is organizing a training workshop for journalists to increase their understanding of the issues and complexities surrounding air pollution, its sources and impacts, and mitigation options. 

Established in 2013, the Atmosphere Initiative of ICIMOD is a part of the Regional Programme on Cryosphere and Atmosphere. It aims to improve our understanding of atmospheric issues and promote regional cooperation for addressing issues relating to air pollution in the HKH region. 

Objectives

  1. To increase journalists’ understanding of air pollution sources, atmospheric processes, impacts, mitigation options, and policy options.
  2. To provide journalists with the tools (understanding and knowledge of where to find further resources) needed to convey to the public new scientific findings and data on air quality.
  3. To encourage journalists to seek out new stories on air pollution related issues and report them with scientific accuracy.
  4. To encourage transboundary collaboration among journalists to work on transboundary air pollution issues.
  5. Orient journalists about effective reporting on air pollution issues, case studies, and how air pollution affects the development of mountain areas and communities.

About the Programme

Highly motivated journalists working with various media outlets (including print, radio, television, and online) from ICIMOD’s regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan – will be brought together through this workshop. The workshop will be facilitated by a senior reporter. 

This four-day long workshop will allow them to have better understanding of regional air pollution, its sources and impacts, atmospheric processes, mitigation options, and policy options. Scientists and other specialists will teach the participants about atmospheric science with emphasis on air pollution, its sources and impacts, and mitigation options with specific relation to the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. By the end of the workshop, the participants will be required to share their story ideas and exchange views with fellow journalists, facilitators, and scientists to discuss and to get the facts right. 

A comprehensive programme will be dedicated to familiarize and to discuss the issue and techniques for information gathering. Detailed presentations by scientists on atmospheric sciences are an attraction of this workshop that offers the participants to clarify and enhance their understanding of issues related to air pollution. The field trip organized as part of the workshop will bring a journalistic perspective to the unrecognized human aspects of the problems associated with air pollution. The workshop will serve as an opportunity to clarify and correct common misconceptions related to air pollution, and also provide journalists with the background knowledge needed to correctly interpret scientific data and present scientific findings to the general public, and to incorporate new perspectives into their articles. By the end of the workshop, the participants will have developed stories aimed at publishing through their respective media houses.

Benefits of being part of the workshop

  • Each participant will produce/publish at least two stories on issues related to air pollution
  • Journalists will emerge from the workshop with increased knowledge on atmospheric issues and confidence in developing stories on its impacts on people in the HKH region
  • Journalists will be equipped with techniques to better report and enhance their stories with human perspectives/dimensions while ensuring scientific accuracy

Guidelines for applications

Interested candidates may apply using the online application form no later than 16 August 2015. The following information will be requires while submitting the form: 

  • An updated curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages) 
  • A written statement indicating the reason for applying and describing your area of interest within the prospect of atmospheric science (In English, no more than 200 words) 
  • At least three clippings/links to relevant, recently published news reports or stories 
  • A signed and stamped letter from the editor of a reputable publishing or broadcast agency indicating an interest in publishing or broadcasting the project story

Eligibility

  • The training workshop targets journalists from ICIMOD’s regional member countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
  • Journalists working in all forms of media outlets, including print, radio, television, and online, may apply.
  • Personal motivation for reporting on air pollution and other atmospheric issue and its implications.
  • Both full-time and freelance journalists can apply. 
  • Applicants should have covered stories on air pollution in the past. 
  • Journalists working in non-English media are welcome to apply, but must indicate proficiency in English as it is the working language of the training workshop.

Selection Process

All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee from ICIMOD. Only successful applicants will be notified via email by 11 September 2015. An automated email and display will appear on your screen after your application is successfully submitted. 

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org
  • 8548 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Assam: Rain cuts in Ulfa dyke trigger pre-monsoon flood fears in Lakhimpur

Heavy pre-monsoon rainfall has caused multiple breaches, locally known as “rain cuts”, in the Ulfa dyke at Panigaon in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, raising fresh concerns of flooding in the region. The 3.7-km-long agri-bund embankment—stretching from Jorkhat-Boniyagaon to Pub-Aamtola Nepaligaon under Pachim Telahi Gaon Panchayat—is popularly known as the Ulfa dyke. It was originally constructed in 1989 by members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) with community participation. According to reports, continuous rainfall over recent weeks has led to the formation of more than 20 rain cuts along the embankment, significantly weakening its structure ahead of the...

Jorhat Hosts Key Meet on Flood Preparedness, Community Feedback Systems

A district-level convening of humanitarian organisations and civil society groups was held in Jorhat at the premises of the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), Dhekiakhowa, focusing on Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) and flood preparedness. Organised by NEADS in collaboration with the State Inter Agency Group and Roots to Branches Foundation, with support from UNICEF Assam, the meeting brought together civil society representatives, district authorities, and local humanitarian actors to strengthen coordination ahead of the flood season. The session opened with a welcome address by Tirtha Prasad Saikia, who underscored the importance of community-centred approaches...

Four Lives Lost in Guwahati’s Man-Made Floods

In a grim reminder of the city’s crumbling urban infrastructure, four lives were lost within 48 hours after heavy rains triggered widespread artificial flooding across Guwahati. What should have been a seasonal downpour instead exposed a deadly mix of neglected drains, poor planning, and administrative failure. The first victim, Payel Nath Das (around 30), a Dharapur resident working at a jewellery shop on GS Road, met a tragic end on the night of April 19. At around 9:30 pm, while wading through knee-deep water at Maligaon Chariali, she slipped into an uncovered roadside drain concealed beneath floodwaters. Her body was recovered 150–250 metres away the next morning by SDRF personnel...

Voting Underway Across Assam; Steady Turnout, Peaceful Polling

Voting for the Assam Assembly elections gathered steady momentum through the morning hours on April 9, with scenes from across the state reflecting a strong and participatory democratic exercise. By mid-morning, polling booths were already witnessing long queues, as men and women, young voters and the elderly alike, stepped out early to cast their votes. The initial hours after 9 AM saw a smooth and peaceful polling process, backed by visible security presence and efficient booth management. In Guwahati, the day unfolded with a calm yet purposeful energy. Polling stations across the city saw a steady stream of voters, many arriving with family members, some even accompanied by children,...

From Dance Floors to Screen: The Journey of Susovan Sonu Roy

Susovan Sonu Roy has steadily carved a place for himself across multiple creative fields—Bengali television, modelling, and films—building his career through persistence, training, and adaptability. Born in Howrah, Susovan spent his formative years between Kolkata and Guwahati. His early life was marked by hardship after losing his father in an accident at a young age. Raised by his mother under challenging circumstances, he went on to complete his graduation in Commerce from Dum Dum Motijheel Rabindra Mahavidyalaya in 2016. His entry into the performing arts began with dance. Driven by interest, he joined a dance institute where he trained in Western dance for nearly two years....

Row Erupts Over Alleged Foreign Wealth Links of Assam CM’s Family

A major political controversy has erupted around Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Congress party levelled serious allegations regarding the alleged accumulation of vast wealth abroad by his family, particularly involving his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. According to a report by The Wire, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that assets worth nearly ₹52,000 crore have been stashed overseas, particularly in the United States, through a company allegedly linked to the Chief Minister’s family. At a press conference in New Delhi, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and questioned the source of such large-scale wealth. He further demanded a probe and even called...

Tai-Ahom Organisations Renew Autonomy Demand, Hold Press Meet in Dispur

Guwahati, April 3, 2026: The Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham State Demand Committee and the Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham People’s Party on Friday held a press conference at the Dispur Press Club, reiterating their demand for permanent political rights and autonomy for the Tai-Ahom community in Assam. Addressing the media, representatives of the organisations stated that despite the Tai-Ahom community’s historical and demographic significance, successive governments have failed to provide meaningful constitutional safeguards. “At present, almost all indigenous communities of Assam… have been raising demands for autonomy or self-determination under the Indian Constitution,” the press release noted,...

Youth Leaders Unite in Cachar to Champion River Governance and Community Resilience

A three-day workshop titled “Youth Leaders for Rivers: Learning Workshop” concluded today at the Cachar Club Conference Hall, bringing together young leaders from across the region to collaborate on river governance, water rights and community resilience. Organized by the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) with support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the event was held from March 24 to 26 under the Youth Basin Ambassadors (YBA) initiative. It aimed to connect youth working across the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Basin and deepen their understanding of river systems, governance challenges and community-driven solutions. Participants included...

ULFA(I) Attack on Police Camp in Assam’s Tinsukia Injures Four, Sparks Security Concerns

Tinsukia, March 22:  Suspected militants of the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I) launched a pre-dawn attack on an Assam Police commando camp in the Jagun area of Tinsukia district, leaving at least four security personnel injured. According to reports, the militants attacked the camp around 2 a.m., allegedly lobbing several grenades and opening fire with automatic weapons. Security forces retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for several minutes before the attackers fled the scene. The injured personnel were later shifted to a hospital in Dibrugarh for treatment. Following the attack, Army and police units launched a joint...

WWF-India Honours Top ‘Mission Prakriti’ Schools in Assam

WWF-India, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam, felicitated five top-performing schools under the ‘Mission Prakriti’ programme for 2025–26 at a ceremony in Guwahati. The initiative promotes environmental awareness among students through themes like biodiversity, water, waste, food, and energy. In Assam, the programme covers over 4,700 schools across all districts. The award-winning schools include Natun Fatasil Town HS (Kamrup Metro), Sakai Khangia High School (Jorhat), Bishnu Jyoti MES (Sonitpur), PM Shri Jamira HS School (Hailakandi), and PM Shri Gossaigaon Girls HS School (Kokrajhar). Tinsukia district was also recognised as the best-performing district. Officials...