Project Survival Media (PSM)

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 12:12

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This collaborative global youth journalism network is using video, photography, and blogs to report from the front lines of the climate crisis. In the lead-up to the United Nations (UN) Climate conference taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December of 2009, Project Survival Media has assembled and launched 7 global media teams (1 from each continent) to: report on compelling climate stories from around the world, amplify voices underrepresented by traditional media, and personalise facts and statistics. As world leaders negotiate a new climate treaty, these media teams will broadcast the message: "Survival is Not Negotiable."

Communication Strategies

As a part of the International Youth Delegation (IYD) to the aforementioned Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP 15), Project Survival Media (PSM) will use new media tactics and tools to spotlight communities disproportionately impacted by climate change: youth, women, people of colour, and indigenous peoples.

First, organisers invited young journalists to join a team on their continent, asking them to visit the PSM website for details and application information. Prospective team members were asked: "Do you want to report on the most compelling stories of the climate crisis? Are you an amateur photographer who wants to greatly improve your skills while doing your part to save the planet? Or maybe you are a videographer wanting to publish your work on 17 youth blogs in 15 languages. Project Survival Media is calling all passionate youth journalists" between the ages of 15-30.

As COP 15 approaches, videography, photography, and other content created by these teams will be featured on the PSM website, along with details about the declaration for a treaty that "ensures the survival of all countries and peoples." According to organisers, PSM's language on survival has made it into the negotiating text; "it is through our continued work that will launch it to the forefront of the policy debate. We will use the media we create to continue to shape this crucial moment in our world, at COP15."

Development Issues

Environment, Rights, Climate Change.

Key Points

"Survival is the issue. We use names like climate change and global warming. Really, we are talking about Survival. It is very clear that this struggle is not about future generations. It is right now....And yet, we continually hear this false contradiction parroted throughout the most powerful nations in the world: what is scientifically necessary is not politically viable. So, it is not politically viable to adhere to scientific targets that ensure a sustainable, peaceful, equitable, and collaborative treaty? But somehow it is politically viable to let half the world drown in climate chaos?"