“Climate Change in the Americas” is the theme of the 35th edition of the annual Journalists & Editors Workshop on Latin America and the Caribbean to be held on March 27-28, 2018, at Florida International University’s Miami Beach Urban Studios.

Each year, FIU’s Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center and School of Communication+Journalism partner to provide a forum for journalists, scholars and policy-makers to discuss the social, economic and political issues facing the hemisphere. These conversations represent informed, interdisciplinary efforts toward enhancing and deepening news coverage, policy decision-making, and the general public’s understanding of the region.

This event is free and all are welcome. Space is limited so everyone must pre-register for sessions and workshops to participate.

_______
Theme: Climate Change in the Americas
In recent years the news industry has wrestled with the challenge of understanding and reporting on the world’s changing climate and the increasing number of disasters that some, but not all, attribute to that change. This event will bring together experts to explain the science and journalists to share the latest techniques in “how to” workshops.

Join us for presentations that explore climate change topics relevant to the Americas. Discussions will include conversations on policy, as well as informative discussions about the realities of sea level rise. Attendees can expect workshops with valuable perspectives from on-the-ground experts, media professionals, researchers, educators and students.

_______
Who is coming?
The workshop attracts some of the top experts on climate change and global warming from the business, nonprofit, and academic worlds, as well as policy makers from international organizations, Latin American and Caribbean governments. Participants will include professional journalists, technology enthusiasts, and students from the fields of Journalism, Communication, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Marketing, and Information Technology, among others.

_______
Agenda, more details to come
This event is free and all are welcome, however space is limited. All attendees must pre-register for each session in order to participate.

Tuesday, March 27, evening

• 6:00p Check-in and registration, networking, drinks and light nosh
• 6:30p Welcoming remarks with Brian Schriner, Dean, College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) and School of Communication+Journalism (SCJ)
• 6:45p Opposing Views with Greg Hamra (Citizens’ Climate Lobby) and James Taylor (The Heartland Institute), moderated by Frank Mora (FIU LACC)
  
  Join us for a conversation to offer students the opportunity to view and analyze the opposite sides of controversial issues. The goal of 35th Annual J&E Workshop is to teach through a case study on climate change.
  
  The opening conversation deals with the two contrasting positions and its place in the formation of public policy. What are the concerns of those who believe climate change is a scientific fact and should be an important part of policy decisions? What tools/approaches should journalists use to report the issue of climate change and the controversy? Representatives from both stances offer insight into their arguments.
  
  
• 8:30p Close

Wednesday, March 28

• 9a Skills-based workshops
• 1p Lunch 'n' Learn with National Geographic Grants
• 2p Keynote discussion on sea level rise in the Americas with Hal Wanless (Geological Sciences at U. of Miami), Thomas Wahl (Coastal Risks and Engineering at U. of Central Florida), Tiffany Troxler (FIU Sea Level Solutions Center) and Juliet Pinto (FIU-CARTA Journalism+Media), moderated by John Morales (NBC Meteorologist)
• 3p Reporting on science and the scientific method with John Morales (NBC Meteorologist)
• 4:30p Skills-based workshop
• 6p Close

_______
Workshops, you must pre-register

Workshop 1, Wednesday 9a
How to Cover Natural Disasters on TV, with Vanessa Hauc, Noticiero Telemundo National Correspondent, and co-fouder of the environmentalist organization Sachamama.

Workshop 2, Wednesday 9a
The Experience of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: How to cover the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rican history, with Sandra Rodríguez Cotto, investigative journalist and host at Puerto Rico's WAPA radio.

Workshop 3, Wednesday 4:30p
How to Face Climate Change Inside and Outside our Campuses, How to organize to promote and comply with climate change’s sustainability goals, with Natalia Lever, Manager for Mexico and Latin America, The Climate Reality Project.