IRADA Empowers Journalists Through Three-Day Constructive Climate Journalism Training
Murree, September 20, 2026: The Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), with the support of International Media Support (IMS), concluded a three-day training workshop on Constructive Climate Journalism for editors and reporters from digital media cohort outlets at Shangrila Hotel, Murree.
Constructive journalism is an editorial approach that goes beyond reporting with the “if it bleeds, it leads” culture so that audiences get the full story, not just half the picture. The Three Pillars – solutions, nuance and democratic conversation – are the foundation of constructive journalism practice.
Held from September 18–20, the workshop focused on strengthening journalists’ capacity to report climate change through a constructive, evidence-based and audience-centred approach. The training addressed the growing challenges of news avoidance, information overload, sensationalism and declining public engagement with news.
Facilitated by Wajid Ali, Asif Mohmand, and Waqas Naeem the sessions introduced participants to the three core pillars of constructive journalism: solutions, nuance and audience involvement. Participants explored how climate stories can move beyond disaster-focused reporting to examine responses, accountability, adaptation, recovery and practical pathways for communities.
The training also examined climate change as a cross-cutting story affecting livelihoods, inequality, migration, governance and the economy. Using the BBC User Needs model, participants developed collaborative climate story ideas tailored to audience needs and explored ways to make climate reporting more relevant and useful.
A key outcome of the workshop was the development of collaborative, cross-outlet climate story pitches. Selected ideas will be supported through content production grants from IRADA for joint production and publication by members of the digital media cohort.
The workshop concluded with the finalisation of story pitches, agreement on cross-outlet collaborations, and discussions on joint publication.
Before the workshop, Muhammad Aftab Alam, executive director IRADA, introduced the concept of constructive journalism and its relevance in the Pakistani context. He underlined the importance of constructive journalism and thanked IMS for supporting the training workshop. He also briefly introduced IRADA’s work over the past few years.
