For the latest ocean news, subscribe to Ocean Update and our other free newsletters.

Interacting with scientists and community managers in the field (such as during this coral replanting project in Fiji) is one of the valuable experiences the Asia Pacific program can offer local media. AP Program

The media plays a critical role in empowering everyone from the community level to policy makers with the information they need to better manage ocean resources. From climate change adaptation to local decisions about marine protected areas, the media is vital to disseminating information about ocean issues. But in today's media environment, journalists are overburdened to produce content, often times in multiple mediums and always under tight deadlines. This does not allow them to spend the time they would need to develop complex environmental stories. The cost of travel to and within the region is also a limiting factor. To ensure the media has the means to cover these issues, access to key sources and direct exposure to the challenges facing the Asia Pacific, we offer a suite of activities.

Sea Series

Each year, SeaWeb holds a six-month marine science lecture series for journalists in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Our courses provide members of the media with a foundation in ocean science to aid general coverage of ocean issues and then focus on critical ocean issues facing communities and government leaders in their countries. Local ocean experts that have received our media training lead the lectures to ensure the information is targeted and useful for the press. The course also includes social networking events so journalists can develop long-term relationships with key sources. Last, we conduct field trips to further enhance understanding of key ocean issues and energize coverage.

Media Briefings

In addition to our Sea Series Course, we work with our partners to conduct periodic media briefings to connect journalists to top researchers, provide a forum for detailed discussion of pressing ocean issues, and if applicable, provide first-hand experiences of coastal ecosystems.

Media Fellowships

Our fellowship program is intended to enhance media coverage of critical ocean issues and the current available research and management tools. This program periodically offers scholarships to qualified journalists so that they may attend and report on ocean-related conferences in the Asia Pacific region. Our fellowships also include sessions that connect journalists with leading experts for in-depth discussions and take media to communities to get an up-close look at the coastal ecosystems and the challenges the people that depend on them are facing.