The closing of "Amplifying the role of female journalists in environmental reporting" program that was implemented over the past six months by (KirkukNow) Media Outlet, and the establishment of a network was announced during the graduation ceremony that took place in the presence of the program participants and the German Consul General in Erbil.
On Monday, January 13, the closing ceremony of the program was held, which was implemented with funding from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. The program was implemented over the past six months based on the triangle of constructive journalism, environmental reporting and amplifying the role of female journalists, with the participation of 18 female journalists.
KirkukNow Editor-in-Chief, Shorish Khalid, delivered the foundation’s speech and said, “We are happy to be here on the last day of the program to expand the role of female journalists in covering environmental issues. This program was full of activities, training and abundant results in the field of environmental journalism.”
“All of these things brought us together here to announce the establishment of the first network of female journalists for environmental reporting in northern Iraq,” Khalid added.
Graduation ceremony of the “Amplifying the Role of female Journalists in Environmental Reporting,” project, Sulaymaniyah, January 13, 2025. KirkukNow
“When we started the program in June 2024, our goal was clear. We developed a precise and detailed plan. The commitment of the program participants and the support of the German Foreign Ministry and the German Consul General in Erbil made our mission easier, so we thank them.”
The 18 female journalists participating in the program represented eight Iraqi provinces, consisting of the four governorates of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq KRI, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Duhok and Halabja, in addition to Kirkuk, Nineveh, Diyala and Salahuddin.
The participants received intensive training for 10 days in July and August, focusing on covering environmental stories through constructive reporting. By December 31, they had produced no less than 80 masterpiece stories on environmental issues and climate change, most of which were based on constructive journalism.
In their last meeting, which took place the day before the program ended, the participants elected a tripartite body to oversee the Women Journalists Network for Environmental Reporting and decided to maintain this network within the framework of the (KirkukNow) Foundation.
Consul General CG of the Republic of Germany in Erbil, Albrecht von Wittke, in the graduation ceremony. KirkukNow
Baran Mohammed, one of the participants in the program, who was chosen as the network’s coordinator, said, “Before the program, we had produced few stories about the environment, due to the marginalization of this field in journalistic work... But this team succeeded in producing 80 genuine stories within three months of practical application, after undergoing intensive training and following the latest standards of reporting.”
German Consul General in Erbil, Albrecht von Wittke, said in a speech about the program, "Last year, when they told me about this program, we were surpirsed. This program is truly unique, as it sheds light on two different topics at the same time, one is covering climate change, and the other is supporting women's voices, by providing support to a group of female journalists to care about environmental problems."
"We are convinced that confronting climate change is a duty of the entire society... We must all be aware of the issue of climate change," he added.
Closing ceremony of the program “Amplifying the Role of female Journalists in Environmental Reporting,” project, Sulaymaniyah, January 13, 2025. KirkukNow
He stressed that Germany's policy is "to provide everyone with equal opportunities... We are happy that we supported this project and the joint work that we accomplished with (KirkukNow)".
Since the moment the participants were accepted into the program, they have shown their commitment to producing four materials based on constructive journalism, in addition to these materials, they have produced a number of reports and news stories on environmental issues. In this context, "From the Environment"has been developed as a new section on the (KirkukNow) website.
The German Consul General addressed the participants, "You have gained good information about climate change and how to follow up on environmental issues. From now on, you can share this information with other groups and think about how to sustain, develop and expand this network."
About the Women Journalists Network for Environmental Journalism, Khalid said, "By electing a three-person body to organize the network's work, we will enter a new phase starting today. The (KirkukNow) team will invest its relationships to serve the network, while the participants will employ their capabilities and experiences to serve the environment and confront climate change. From here, we will work together to continue this network, and to be able to develop and expand it."
