By Shadrack Nyakoe
In a significant event at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, CNN launched a powerful series of micro-documentaries focused on the impact of climate change in the Global South.
Supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, these documentaries offer a unique perspective on how climate-related disasters are disproportionately affecting communities in countries like Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The documentaries were created by emerging journalists trained through CNN Academy’s Global South Climate Storytelling program.
The series is the culmination of seven months of intensive training, mentorship, and production. During this period, participants received guidance from CNN’s seasoned journalists, learning critical skills in research, storyboarding, mobile journalism, filming, and editing.
The aim was not only to improve the technical aspects of storytelling but also to ensure that these stories resonated with a global audience.
The program was designed to equip young, emerging journalists with the tools to produce impactful content that accurately represents the climate crisis and its consequences.
CNN Academy trainers, alongside specialists in the field, provided detailed lessons on self-filming, scriptwriting, vocal training, and how to create compelling narratives that align with the standards of global journalism.
Becky Anderson, Anchor & Managing Editor at CNN Abu Dhabi, expressed pride in the young storytellers’ achievements.
“To see these powerful, deeply authentic films, informed by our training, fills us with an enormous sense of pride,” she said. “The future of journalism is in good hands with these talented, passionate storytellers.”
As part of the production process, each documentary underwent a rigorous review by CNN’s legal, standards & practices, and fact-checking teams before being approved for release. This meticulous process ensures that the final films meet the highest standards of journalistic integrity while telling the personal and community-driven stories of those most affected by climate change.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to empower young journalists from the Global South and provide them with the tools to create content that can inspire climate action. CNN’s collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation has been pivotal in this effort. Kostas Oikonomou, Vice President of Content Sales and Licensing at CNN International Commercial, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration helps amplify voices from regions that often go unheard, and it’s vital for the future of journalism that these voices are empowered to tell their own climate stories.”
Eileen O’Connor, Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy at The Rockefeller Foundation, also expressed the foundation’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent. “By empowering young storytellers, we’re not only enhancing climate reporting but also supporting the new generation of journalists who will help shape climate action globally,” she said. “These stories are a testament to the determination of these storytellers to make their voices heard and inspire change in the regions most vulnerable to climate impacts.”
The training program has already had a transformative effect on the participants. For many, it was an opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry while working on projects that address one of the world’s most pressing issues. Ben Pama, a participant from South Africa, reflected on his experience, noting how the mentorship he received gave him the confidence to push boundaries in storytelling. “It was transformative. My experience at CNN Academy pushed me to elevate my skills and creativity,” he said.
Other participants, like Blessing Kure from Nigeria, found the experience equally impactful, gaining a new perspective on how journalism can be an intersection of factual reporting and human stories. “The mentorship I received helped me take my documentary from an idea to the finished product,” she said. Similarly, participants such as Breech Asher Harani from the Philippines emphasized the importance of working independently while still receiving constructive feedback from mentors to improve their work.
The climate-focused documentaries have also provided an invaluable platform for raising awareness about local environmental challenges. In countries like Colombia, where disappearing islands are a growing concern, Salomé Saldarriaga Jiménez was able to explore the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. “It was a privilege to work on a story that focuses on a topic as underreported as climate change in Colombia,” she said. “This program opened doors to professional opportunities and allowed me to collaborate with talented, ambitious storytellers.”
For Sen Nguyen from Vietnam, the CNN Academy program helped him create a documentary on coconut nectar as a solution to saltwater intrusion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. “This experience set a high standard for my future reporting,” he said, underscoring the transformative nature of the training and mentorship.
As the participants’ work continues to be shared with a wider audience, the series is expected to make a lasting impact on both the journalism industry and the broader climate change conversation. The full collection of documentaries can be viewed on CNN’s official website at cnn.com/world/cnn-academy, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by communities in the Global South and the emerging voices working to address them.
The CNN Academy Global South Climate Storytelling program, alongside The Rockefeller Foundation’s support, represents a significant step forward in empowering young journalists and ensuring that the climate crisis is reported accurately and passionately from the regions that are most affected.
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