UNISDR European media training workshop

National media organizations play an important role in promoting national disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and programmes. To do so, however, they need to know what disaster risk reduction is about and to have established contacts with key DRR professionals who can provide them with accurate and timely information. At the same time, National Platform representatives need to be  trained on how to better promote disaster risk reduction issues through the media at the national level.

In response to these needs, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), together with the support of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the United Nations Regional Information Centre Brussels (UNRIC) and the European Commission’s Directorate General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, will organize a media training

The training will include two main sessions:

 A first session on 15 November 2010 for media organizations only:
- To learn more about disaster risk reduction issues and how to report “differently” about disasters

A second session on 16 November 2010 for National Platform representatives and media organisations:
- To explore better ways to interact and promote disaster risk reduction stories

Participants of the two sessions will have the possibility to interact and exchange their experiences and expertise during the workshop. The media representatives will additionally  have the opportunity to attend a press conference on 15 November at 10.am on “The benefits of disaster risk reduction to reduce climate change impacts” with Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner, International Cooperation Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response  in the lead-up to the upcoming climate change negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico.