A group of Journalists and senior executives of two Pacific Islands Broadcasters attending a “Strengthening Climate & Disaster Reporting in Pacific SIDS and Leveraging AI” in Malaysia have been told to increase reporting on the real live issues that people in Small Islands Developing States are facing due to Climate Change.

The Broadcasters are Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation and the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea.

Dewi Safitri is a Climate Reporter with CNN Indonesia. “It’s our job as journalists to be the watchdogs. We need to track those funds, expose waste, and make sure the money is being used to build real solutions, not just to make some company look good. When we do that, we help build trust and show that climate action is a smart investment, not just a feel-good gesture,”

And it’s not just about the money. Climate policy is often filled with confusing acronyms and technical jargon. It’s like a secret language only a few people speak.

It makes it hard for regular people to understand what’s at stake.

“Our job is to be the translators. We need to break down complex ideas—like carbon pricing or emissions targets—and explain what they mean for your wallet, your health, and your future. Because when people understand, they can get involved and demand change.” Said Ms Satifri.

Journalists are asked to be persistent. It’s easy for a politician to make a promise. But what happens after the cameras are off? Are they actually keeping their word? Are companies hitting their sustainability goals?

That’s where fact-based reporting comes in. Journalists were told to keep asking those tough questions and to put pressure on leaders.

“It forces them to move from vague promises to concrete results. It holds them accountable to the people they serve.” She said.

Safitri who is also the facilitator in the workshop told the participants, “We can’t forget the real stories which is the people. While the international conferences are big news, the true impact of climate change is being felt by farmers, fishers, and indigenous communities.”

“By giving a platform to their voices, we humanize the issue. We show the direct link between a policy made in a faraway office and the daily struggles of real people,” she said.

The workshop is organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development and UNESCO.