Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Workshop explores inclusive risk communication, media resilience, and the future of journalism education
From 23 to 27 June 2025, media professionals came together for a workshop on disaster preparedness and response, co-organized by the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), UNDRR, and UNESCO. The five-day event aimed to build media capacity to inform, engage, and protect the public in the face of increasing climate-related disasters.
The training, supported by the CREWS Initiative South-West Indian Ocean project, formed part of the broader Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative and drew on UNESCO’s Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions. Sessions focused on everything from developing business continuity strategies to ensuring inclusive and accurate disaster coverage during disasters.
“For me, this workshop has been an eye-opener,” said Marie-Claude d’Unienville of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). “We need to think about the risks we have in our own working environment.”
The workshop also placed a strong emphasis on leadership and institutional planning by engaging directly with media managers. Veronica Maria, Managing Director of Today in Seychelles, reflected on the value of this approach:
“I learned how to do a risk assessment plan, how to monitor the plan every six to twelve months-that will be a good guide for business continuity.”
Participants had the opportunity to examine disaster scenarios from multiple perspectives and to simulate newsroom decision-making under crisis conditions. This practical lens encouraged reflection on both external hazards-like road closures and internet outages-and internal risks that could disrupt media operations.
A dedicated session on disability inclusion in disaster communication struck a particular chord. Christine Winslow, a disability rights advocate with Ramp Up Rise Up, emphasized the urgency of placing accessibility at the center of preparedness efforts:
“[Persons with disabilities] do get forgotten and ignored and are most times an afterthought-especially when it comes to implementing and providing accessibility.”
Her remarks were met with strong support from participants, many of whom acknowledged that the needs of persons with disabilities are too often overlooked in emergency communication.
The DRMD reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media sector. “Not only do we want to empower media to educate our public but also to protect themselves. They have to be mindful of their own personal safety when reporting onsite in crisis time”, said Jade Landry.
The workshop also brought in a forward-looking educational component. Mr. Samuel Mundua, Senior Lecturer of Journalism at the University of Seychelles, attended as part of efforts to develop the country’s first formally accredited journalism programme. “The content and local case studies from this workshop will inform our new curriculum, especially around environmental and disaster risk topics,” he shared.
As small island developing states like Seychelles face mounting climate threats, this workshop marks a significant step in building stronger bridges between media, government, and academia to ensure that risk communication in Seychelles is inclusive, evidence-based, and resilient.