“From Information to Knowledge and Action” Capacity Building Workshop Report

The CDKN Shubh Kal project conducted two training workshops in September and November 2012 at TARA Gram, Orchha, for reporters from four community radio stations: Radio Bundelkhand, Lalit Lokwaani, Chanderi Ki Awaaz, and Radio Dhadhkan. The training combined theoretical lessons on climate science and journalism with practical field visits to villages and research institutions. Participants learned to bridge the gap between scientific experts, policymakers, and rural farmers by producing simplified, engaging radio content on adaptation and climate risks.

• Before the training, most community radio reporters lacked a comprehensive understanding of climate change vulnerabilities and felt unconfident when interviewing experts. A pre-workshop survey revealed that while participants linked climate change to deforestation, their understanding of the distinction between climate and weather was "particularly low".
• The workshops aimed to position community radio reporters as intermediaries who can reduce the gap between scientific researchers, government officials, and rural communities. This role involves simplifying scientific information for farmers and communicating grassroots needs to policymakers to support "more robust policies relating to climate resilient development".
• Practical training included mock interviews and field visits to villages such as Rajapur, Papawani, and Baruasagar Phutera to identify local climate impacts and adaptation practices. Reporters also visited scientific organisations, including the National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF) and the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), to learn about drought-tolerant seeds and water conservation.
• Trainers emphasised that effective climate journalism must move beyond reporting on disasters to include early warnings and the promotion of adaptation measures. A key technical finding from the story-editing sessions was that expert interview bytes were often "too long in duration and technical in nature", necessitating that radio anchors simplify the information for the audience.
• The workshops resulted in the production of specific radio stories and plays focusing on organic farming, water scarcity in Papawani village, and the success of check dams in Rajapur. Participants agreed to produce future 20-minute "magazine format style" programmes covering themes such as agroforestry, livestock rearing, and the effects of chemical farming in Bundelkhand.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2012). “From Information to Knowledge and Action” Capacity Building Workshop Report. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Capacity-Building-Workshop-Report.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. “From Information to Knowledge and Action” Capacity Building Workshop Report. 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Capacity-Building-Workshop-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=“From Information to Knowledge and Action” Capacity Building Workshop Report |date=2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Capacity-Building-Workshop-Report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2012from, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{“From Information to Knowledge and Action” Capacity Building Workshop Report}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Capacity-Building-Workshop-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }