August 15, 2024 | CCCCCPress Release 014
The CCCCC (Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre) was one of 8 sponsors highlighting the organisation’s support to journalists across the region who showcase dedication to raising awareness about climate change.
The region’s journalists were recognised for their outstanding contributions to climate change reporting at the 35th Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) media awards. The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday 13th August 2024 at the Umaya Resort in Placencia, Belize. Trophies, plaques, and certificates were awarded across 55 categories, with the most awards (24) in themed categories.
Five awards focused on climate-related topics and were presented by Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the CCCCC. Speaking at the gala, Dr Young reiterated the pivotal role mainstream media plays in climate change advocacy. “The United Nations has referred to climate change as the single greatest threat facing humanity, but yet, the knowledge gap that exists within our region on this issue of climate change is actually very significant,” Dr. Young expressed. He added, “so we need the partnership of the media, we need partnerships like the one with the CBU for you to tell the stories and for you to shed a light on how climate change is impacting our way of life and the injustices that climate change is causing.”
Tuesday night’s climate reporting awards sponsored by the CCCCC were won by:
- Sashana Small of the RJRGleaner Group of Jamaica for “Some of these classrooms are furnaces.” Best Climate Change Investigative Report – Print.
- Vishani Ragobeer and Shaconeil Burnette of Newsroom Inc of Guyana for “Washed Away: People who help protect turtles are losing their home.” Best Climate Change Report – Television
- Neil Marks and Shatanand Anude of News Room Inc of Guyana for “Money from Trees: Amerindian Chiefs say Rights not Violated” Best Investigative Report – Digital
- Hipolito Novelo and Darrel Moguel of Great Belize Production, Channel 5 of Belize for “Cultivating Hope: Belize’s Seaweed Farming Industry Takes Root”. Best Climate Change News report – Television
- Myles Eversley, Joshua Hinkson and Sherwood McCaskie of CBC, Barbados, for “Info Insight: Rum and Sargassum.” Best Climate Change Documentary – Television
- Kalain Hosein, multi-media journalist of Trinidad and Tobago got special mentions in 3 categories: Best Climate Change Documentary – Television; Best Climate Change Investigative Report – Television; and Best Climate Change News Item – Print
During an interview following the awards, Jamaican journalist, Sashana Small of the RJRGleaner said, “Oftentimes, we do the work because we care about it, we care about our earth, and it’s really nice when you are incentivised to continue doing this work.”
Journalists’ reporting on climate change plays a vital role in informing the public about its impacts, shaping policies, and driving action on this critical issue. Over the past two years, the CCCCC, through its strategic partnership with the European Union (EU) trained more than 70 journalists from across the Caribbean, under the EU-GCCA+ programme in CARIFORUM.
The CCCCC remains committed to supporting the work of the CBU and the Caribbean media industry ensuring that the critical stories of the region continue to be told with depth and urgency.
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About the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is an intergovernmental organisation established by the Heads of Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to coordinate the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change. The CCCCC also serves as a delivery partner for climate finance for the region, a repository for regional climate change information and a data provider of climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the CARICOM Member States.
