Programme. #2025. Reporting from the frontline of the global climate crisis in an era of fake news
04-07-25
Recognizing and countering fake news – Strengthen knowledge on the mechanisms behind fake news, including misinformation, disinformation, deep fakes, and bot-driven narratives. Learn fact-checking and verification techniques.
Science journalism for climate reporting – Develop skills to interpret and communicate complex scientific research, ensuring climate stories are evidence-based and accessible to the public.
Investigative journalism techniques – Apply investigative research and reporting methods to uncover hidden aspects of climate-related issues, hold decision-makers accountable, and expose misinformation.
Constructive journalism approaches – Learn how to report on climate challenges with a solution-oriented perspective while maintaining core journalistic principles, fostering public engagement and informed discussions.
Practical reporting from COP30 – Gain firsthand experience covering the United Nations climate conference, engaging with global climate experts, policymakers, and activists.
Building a global journalism network – Connect with fellow journalists, experts, and stakeholders to foster long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange in climate reporting.
Programme dates overview:
Week 1 in Online: 13 – 15 August 2025
Week 2/3 in Denmark: 8 – 19 September 2025
Week 4 in Brazil COP30: 15 – 21 November 2025
Week 5 Online: 8 – 12 December 2025
Week 6 Online: 8 January 2026
Mandatory outputs/Five pieces of content are to be produced and published in the journalist’s respective media. The content of these four pieces should address the journalists’ target group and shed light on their countries’/regions’/communities’ climate crisis concerns and/or pertinent agendas. See criteria for the five pieces of content (mandatory outputs)
(The programmes is subject to changes. Latest update 29 September 2025.)
Fake news & reporting from the frontline of the global climate crisis
Time zones: Denmark and South Africa (GMT+2), Kenya (GMT +3), Brazil (GMT -3), India (GMT +5:30)
14:00 – 14:15 (GMT +2). Welcome & introduction
Vibeke Quaade, Senior Communications Consultant, Danida Fellowship Centre and Terkel Borg, Sector Councellor, Embassy of Denmark in Brazil
14:15 – 15:00 (GMT +2). Fake news in the era of the global climate crisis. Setting the scene.
Nauê Bernardo de Azevedo, Brazil, Professor, Lawyer, Political Scientist and Climate Activist
15:00 – 17:00 (GMT +2). Bridging the Gap. Science for the Public. Part #1.
Lise Brix, Facilitator & Science Journalist, Videnskab.dk
Why care about science?
- Tools: How to find local science news
- Exercise: Find a study from your local area
17:00 Before Denmark practicalities & end of day
Tools and methods of science journalism
Time zones: Denmark and South Africa (GMT+2), Kenya (GMT +3), Brazil (GMT -3), India (GMT +5:30)
14:00 – 16:30 (GMT +2). Bridging the Gap. Science for the Public. Part #2. Lise Brix, Trainer & Science Journalist, Videnskab.dk
When science disagrees: Who should I trust?
Part 1: How to avoid typical mistakes when reporting on science
Intro to assignment: Produce a climate science story
16:30 – 19:00 (GMT +2). Bridging the Gap. Science for the Public. Part #2 (cont.) Voluntary
Online availability to help you find your story – getting started (voluntary)
Deadline for the 1st piece of content (mandatory output) is Wednesday 27 August.
To pass this course and continue to COP30 it’s mandatory to send the climate science story before deadline to lb@videnskab.dk and vq@dfcentre.dk
WEEK 2 & 3/ In person, Denmark: 8 September – 19 September 2025
Arrival Copenhagen, Denmark.
Welcome Location: Danida Fellowship Centre´s Café, Hostrupsvej 22, 1950 Frederiksberg 20:00 – 21:00. Welcome and practicalities Fake news in the era of the global climate crisis Location: Danida Fellowship Centre´s Café, Hostrupsvej 22, 1950 Frederiksberg 09:00 – 9:20. Welcome 9:20 – 10:30. Why we are here, programme & introductions 10:30 – 11:00. Tea Break 11:00 – 11:45. Fake news in the era of a global climate crisis, 11:45 – 12:30. Q & A / discussion 12:30 – 13:30. Lunch 13:30 – 14:00. Taking stock: The global climate crisis anno 2025 14:00 – 14:30. Q & A / discussion 14:30 – 15:00. Tea Break 15:00 – 16:30. Expectations & meeting the other participants. Mini case clinic 16:30. End of day Fibs, fakes and the role of journalism Location: Danida Fellowship Centre´s Café, Hostrupsvej 22, 1950 Frederiksberg Facilitator(s): Thomas Hedin, Managing Editor on Chief & Steen Jensen, Editor-in-Chief, Tjekdet 09:00 – 09:10. Welcome, today’s programme and introduction 09:10 – 09:45. Why facts matter: Misinformation and disinformation harm democracy. Where do we stand today? Thomas Hedin, Managing Editor-in-Chief, TjekDet 09:45 – 10:45. How journalists work dedicatedly with fact-checking: Methodologies, terminology, definitions, and an overview of the fact-checking landscape. Misinformation narratives. How is misinformation spread. Introduction for EE24 Database Fact-checking as a genre and method: From research question to conclusion. Steen Jensen, Editor-in-Chief, TjekDet 10:45 – 11:00. Break 11:00 – 12:00. AI is now a major driver of misinformation and disinformation – Get to know and test essential verification tools for AI generated images, videos, text. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge and concrete strategies that can be applied immediately. Zakaria Hameed, OSINT Expert, TjekDet 12:00 – 13:00. Lunch 13:00 – 15:00. How to verify and map images and videos Get to know and test essential verification tools. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge and concrete strategies that can be applied immediately. Nathalie Damgaard Frisch, Journalist Zakaria Hameed, OSINT Expert, TjekDet 15:00 – 15:30. Key Takeaways from the day – reflections Steen/Thomas 15:30 – 16:00. Next steps: From knowledge to output – “2nd piece of content” assignment Vibeke Quaade & Eva Pineda Hansen, Danida Fellowship Centre Deadline for the 2nd piece of content (mandatory output) 10th October. Submission to vq@dfcentre.dk & sj@tjekdet.dk 17:00 – 19:00. Culture Talk & pizza Tactics to science journalism Location: Carl Jacobsens Vej 16 D, 2. Sal, 2500 Valby. Facilitator: Lise Brix, Trainer & Science Journalist, Videnskab.dk 09:00 – 10:00. Bridging the Gap. Science for the Public. Part #3. Recap from online sessions 10:00 – 10:30. Share your mistakes 10:30 – 11:00. Tea Break 11:00 – 11:30. General learning points from assignment 11:30 – 12:30. Group feedback on assignments 12:30 – 13:30. Lunch Break 13:30 – 14:30. Critical approach to science Investigative climate journalism: When the local becomes global Location: MS ActionAid Denmark, Fælledvej 12, 2200 København N. Solidarity ( Room 21), Entrance C, 2nd floor. Facilitators: Oscar Rothstein and Mathias Glistrup, Danwatch Key date: 1 September – Deadline for angle briefs on local cases: 09:00 – 10:00. Introduction and overview 10:00 – 11:00. Methods & case study – The Shadow Fleet 11:00 – 11:30. Break 11:30 – 12:30. Methods & cross-border collaboration 12:30 – 13:30. Lunch 13:30 – 14:30. Workshop: Deadline for the 3rd piece of content (mandatory output). 20 October. Plenum feedback 27 October 2-5 pm CET. 14:00 – 15:30. Pitches & feedback (working tea/coffee) 15:30 – 16:00. Summary and next steps The triple planetary crises. Platforms for research – media collaboration Location: UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, Marmorvej 51, 2100 Ø. Auditorium 3. NB: Remember your passport Facilitator(s): Malene Nielsen Mansour. Deputy Head at Permanent Delegation of Denmark to UNESCO and Mette Annelie Rasmussen, Chief Advisor, Outreach and Communications 9:00 – 9:30. Welcome by Anne Olhoff, Director ai and Chief Scientific Editor of The Emissions Gap Report, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre 9:30 – 10:00. Bridging the Gap. Science for the public. Challenges and opportunities of media and research collaboration. Vibeke Hjortlund, Videnskab.dk 10.00 – 10.30 A global initiative for information integrity on climate change and biodiversity. Biosphere reserves and the framework for collaboration between scientists and journalists on the topic of The triple planetary crises . Malene Nielsen Mansour 10:30 – 10:45. Break 10.45 – 11.00. The global initiative to support journalists and scientific researchers in tackling The triple planetary crises together with the information crisis. Malene Nielsen Mansour 11:00 – 11.30. Group work. Google drive Group 1: What are the critical roles of scientific researchers and journalists in addressing the triple planetary crisis together with the information crisis? Group 2: What role can journalists and scientific researchers play in addressing the risk of sponsorship bias in scientific research. With the need for transparency in science funding, what questions should journalists ask scientists? Group 3: How can journalist and scientific researchers collaborate with content creators in ways that support access to public interest information about environmental issues? Group 4: In an era of massive spread of mis- and disinformation, how can journalists and scientific researchers collaborate to secure accuracy in journalism? Group 5: What conditions are necessary to take full advantage of the environmental, democratic and transformative potential of journalists and scientific researchers’ working together with the shared objective of contributing to a healthy planet and strong information ecosystems? 11:30 – 12:00. Reporting back & feedback 12:00 – 12:15 Break Behind the scenes of two UNEP reports 12:15 – 12:45. The Emissions Gap report & The Adaption Gap – both to be launched before COP30 report 12.45 – 13:00. Q & A 13:00 – 14:00. Family photo & lunch Views and reflections on the international climate negotiations by international NGOs. 14:00 – 16:00. Inside views from COP NGO lobbyist Mattias Söderberg , DanChurchAid and John Nordbo, Care Denmark 16:00 – 16:15. Closing remarks & end of day Free time – Enjoy your Saturday! Optional excursion day 2nd hand clothed market 10:00 – 14:00. Departure from Danida Fellowship Centre. Transportation by Metro & train to Gentofte Loppemarked. The state of the Danish Sea. A speck in the eye of the ocean 09.00 – 09.15: Coffee & Tea 9.15-10.00: The state of the Danish sea and how we got there (with Q&A) 10.00-10.45: WWF models of restoration (with Q&A) 10.45 – 11.15: The role of Copenhagen City and Port Development in sustainable development of urban and marine areas in Copenhagen (with Q&A) 11.15- 12.00: Guided tour in the harbor with stop at bio huts and stone reefs 13.00 – 15.00: Optional tour with the Copenhagen Harbour ferry to Nordhavn (sustainable city of the future) 15.00 – 16.00: From EU chairmanship to COP30 Constructive Journalism Location: International Press Centre, Skindergade 7, 1st Floor, DK-1159 Copenhagen K 09:00 – 9:20. Welcome and introduction to the trainings by Peter Krause, Head of Office, International Press Centre Facilitators: Ulrik Hagerup, CEO, Constructive Institute (morning hrs) & Tanja Nyrup Madsen, Investigative and Constructive Editor (afternoon hrs) 9:20 – 10:30. State of the World 2025: Key data and the journalist’s role 10:30- 11.00. What is constructive journalism 11:00 – 11:30. Tea Break 11:30 – 12:00. The three pillars of constructive journalism 12:00 – 12:30. Group exercise: Apply constructive principles in your own media context 12:30 – 13:30. Lunch Break Module 2. Workshop – How do I apply constructive journalism in my own work? 13.30 – 13.40 Intro to the workshop 13.40 – 14.15 Exercise 1: Two sets of constructive eyes 14.15 – 14.25 Break 14.25 -14. 50 Exercise 2: Stay critical! 14.50 – 15.15 Exercise 3: Embrace the complexity 15.15 – 15.25 Plenum round-up 15.25-30: Your assignment. See mandatory outputs 16.00 – 17.30 Misinformation in the time of global crises, public event Join a free after-work talk with climate journalists from around the world, where we focus on misinformation and its ability to weaken democracy’s capacity to act in the midst of a climate crisis. Politiken’s climate journalist Adam Hannestad will lead the talk Read more about Misinformation in the time of global crisis and sign up. Media & interest groups at COP Location: Morning: Danish Broadcasting Association, DR Byen, Amager 09:00 – 10:30. Meeting Danish Climate and COP journalists. Planning in progress 10:30 – 11:30. Tour of DR TBC. Planning in progress 11:30 – 12:30. Break & Lunch 12:30 – 13:45. Introduction to Denmark’s green transition 14:00 – 16:00. Meet the Danish farming sector & discuss how the Danish agriculture may become sustainable Facilitator(s): Lise Walbom, CEO & Mie Ole Lauritsen, Director 16:00. End of day Excursion to Middelgrunden Windmill Cooperative 13:45. Make sure to arrive in Nyhavn at this time (at the latest) 14:00. Departure from Nyhavn Next stop: COP30 9.00 – 10.00. Experiences from COP coverage by John Okot, Freelance Journalist based in Northern Uganda, James Kahonge, Communications Lead at Powershift Africa, Nairobi and Mapi Mhlangu, Editor in Chief, Newzroom Afrika, Johannesburg TBC 10:00 – 10.15. Break 10:15 – 11:00. Next step COP30. What is at Stake. 11:00 – 12:00 Meet Globalnyt.dk – possible collaboration with your media 12:00 – 12:30. Winding up and practicalities: Key take aways. In threes Recap mandatory outputs Goodbye for now. See you in Brazil 13:00. End of in-person seminar WEEK 4/ Brazil: In- person in Belém, Brazil COP30: Saturday 15 – Thursday 20 November Except for arrival, intro, welcome reception hosted by the Danish embassy, a small low key farewell event and departure, there will be no detailed programme for the journalists developed for COP30. The reason being the journalists are expected to use their contacts, skills, and tools acquired so far to cover COP30. Each of them will report to their respective media houses and platforms in line with their media’s editorial policies and audience requirements. However, there is a day-by-day structure for the journalists’ workdays, that as per experience starts with breakfast before 8 am and finishes when the story of the day is ready and filed, often past midnight: Day-by-day structure during COP30 This structure ensures a collaborative and dynamic approach to covering COP30, allowing journalists to leverage their skills while maintaining a cohesive reporting strategy. WEEK 5/Online: Monday 8 – Friday 12 December 2025 Online feedback slots to the mandatory constructive and investigative pieces by the facilitators. WEEK 6/Online: Thursday 8 January 2026 14:00 – 16:00 GMT+2. Online debriefing. Time zones: Denmark and South Africa (GMT+2), Kenya (GMT +3), Brazil (GMT -3), India (GMT +5:30) 17:00. End of programme and hope to see you all again!
Ulla Næsby Tawiah, Director Danida Fellowship Centre
Vibeke Quaade, Senior Communications Consultant & Eva Pineda Hansen, Capacity Development Advisor, Danida Fellowship Centre
Lisbeth Knudsen, Board Chair TjekDet
Mette Nørgaard Dissing-Spandet, Ambassador, Director, Green Diplomacy and Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Danida Fellowship Centre
14:30 – 15:00. Exercises, critical approach to science
15:00 – 15:30. Tea Break
15:30 – 16:30. Quizzes and final remarks
16:30. End of Day
The task: “Write a brief pitch (approx half a page) for a story suited for investigative journalism and with a potential for global reach. Outline the gist of the story and possible angles and research methods” Send it to or@danwatch.dk & vq@dfcentre.dk
An introduction to the day and overview of collaborative, international investigative journalism.
An award-winning investigative journalism project by Danwatch, in collaboration with Politiken and NOOR Images, published in 2023.
Exploring how local stories can be developed into global investigations.
Identifying international angles and hooks in local cases, based on individual angle briefs.
To pass this course and continue to COP30 it’s mandatory to send the investigative journalism story before deadline to or@danwatch.dk and vq@dfcentre.dk
Chief Scientific Editors, Anne Olhoff and Henry Neufeldt
Location: By & Havn, Nordre Toldbod 7, DK-1259 København K
Thomas Kirk Sørensen. Lead Specialist, Oceans, WWF
Henrike Semmler Le, Senior Advisor for Ocean & Fisheries, WWF
Anette Walter, Project Leader and Sustainable City Development, By & Havn
Henrike Semmler
Tour ends at The Playhouse /Nyhavn
12.00 – 13.00: Lunch
Location: The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Holmens kanal 20, 1016 Copenhagen K
Meet Denmark’s chief negotiater, Marie Samuelsen. Get insights into the planning in progress and negotiations during COP30.
Module 1. Constructive Mindset. The Why? of constructive journalism
Location: Politiken, Salen, Vestergade 28, 1456 Copenhagen K
Facilitator: Planning in progress
Location: State of Green, Vesterbrogade 1E – 1620 Copenhagen
Facilitator(s): Stine Lykke Vestergaard, Head of Press & Iver Høj Nielsen, Head of P4G Activities
Location: Food Nation, Vesterbrogade 1L, 4. sal, 1620. (Same building as State of Green, but different entrance)
Speaker: Olivia Rumble, climate change legal and policy expert, Climate Legal
Sven Johansen, Editor in Chief, Globalnyt.dk
