CrispNG journalists among 15 fellows selected for climate reporting project in West Africa

Blessing Chukwuneke, a journalist and communication strategist with Crisp Nigeria (CrispNG), the youth-focused online media, has been selected for the Open Climate Reporting Initiative (OCRI).

The OCRI, organised by the Centre for Investigative Journalism, a London-based think-tank, in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), targets journalists and newsrooms in West Africa.

Chukwuneke was among 15 fellows selected for the latest cohort out of about 130 applications from Nigeria, Ghana, and the Gambia, the organisers said in a statement.

“We found your investigative story idea suitable for this programme and you are part of the 15 selected fellows for this cohort,” the congratulatory statement read.

The fellowship will begin with a four-day story-lab workshop where story ideas of selected fellows will be refined by a faculty of experts and seasoned investigative editors.

The story-lab will also provide journalists with the knowledge, insights and skills to utilise investigative tools for cross border investigations. Following the story lab, participants will also be inducted into the CJID Cross-border Climate Reporting Network.

Similarly, CrispNG was selected as one of the newsrooms to participate in the fellowship. The organisation will be represented by Francis Blessing, its reporter and multimedia manager, at the event.

Francis will present CrispNG’s story idea to the judges during the four-day story lab.

The story lab, which commences today, September 9, 2024 in Lagos state will end on Thursday, September 12.