The Energy Mix on Solutions Journalism: How Climate News Builds Momentum for Action

By Sustainability Network

*Please note, all registrants will be provided with a link to the recording and presentation slides following the sessions. The recording will be available for 60 days.



Join us for a conversation about the essential role of independent climate news reporting. This session is for anyone trying to build momentum for climate solutions—on the front lines, or in federal and provincial policy.

Finding a steady foothold is challenging in the midst of a global climate and affordability crisis, cascading mis/disinformation, and alarming attacks on democracy and Canadian sovereignty. Independent journalism, practiced from a base of deep energy and climate expertise, is crucial to that effort.

This session will cover:

• The line between climate journalism and advocacy—and why it matters;
• Why reliable, independent news reporting is an essential bulwark for democracy and Canadian sovereignty, an antidote to mis/disinformation, and a basis for communities to rebuild trust;
• How ENGOs and other changemakers can use climate and energy journalism as a proof point for their own work.

‍The session is set up to allow lots of time for questions and discussion. So bring your own ideas and experience, hopes and concerns to this hour-long conversation.

Moderator

• Mitchell Beer is founding publisher of The Energy Mix, a non-profit community news site and e-digest on energy, climate change, and rapid decarbonization. Mitchell traces his work in clean energy to 1977, in climate change to 1997, and delivered an October, 2019 TEDx talk on how to build wider buy-in for faster, deeper carbon cuts.

Panelists

• Alex Cool-Fergus is an experienced organizer and political campaigner with 15 years of work in local and federal climate policy. She has worked on and led dozens of local political and mobilization campaigns, writes the ClimateMemes newsletter on Substack, and uses much of her time not running after her kids debating politics with anyone who will listen.
• Valerie Walsh is an Information Technology instructor at the College of the North Atlantic in St. John's, Newfoundland. The youngest of 11 from Fermeuse, population 600, she values her community's ocean heritage. A passionate performer, Valerie enjoys singing and participating in community theatre, readily sharing her voice with others.
• Jody MacPherson is a freelance reporter for The Energy Mix. Jody trained as a journalist, worked in public relations for 30+ years, and has had her own newsletter for more than a decade. She’s currently working on an investigative series on the proposed Wonder Valley data centre/gas plant megaproject in northern Alberta.