Nine issues tackled in journalism supported by Macaranga's Environmental Reporting Mentorship
21 August 2025: From ikan bilis fisheries to light pollution and waste management, the Macaranga Environmental Reporting Mentorship 2025 saw the production of features by 5 journalists and 5 news pieces by university students.
This project was supported by a grant from the Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL) administered by Justice for Wildlife Malaysia.
Our objective was to promote environmental messaging that is based on facts, guided by science, driven by data, is balanced and aligned to global environmental aspirations. It also promotes the role of the media and youth as key civil society actors and drivers of change.
- Capacity building of journalists
We held a workshop for 12 reporters from different newsrooms to build their skills and up their knowledge on environmental issues. We then gave out 4 grants for 4 journalists to produce stories, and mentored them for 4 months.
Check out their indepth investigations:
- Malaysia’s growing light pollution threatens wildlife; Light Pollution Guideline in the works and a follow-up story quoting MPs (Luqman Hakim / New Straits Times)
- Coastal Crisis: What’s Eating Terengganu’s Shoreline? (Liew Yi Min / PocketTimes with Najmi Mamat)
- When fishermen are forced to relocate, do you still have seafood to eat? — The conflict behind Pangkor Island’s development; English version (Yap Si Err / KiniTV)
- Can Selangor Handle the Data Centre Boom? (Sakina Mohamed & Shaza Al Muzayen / Garasi Bernama)
2. Capacity building of university students
In collaboration with Universiti Malaya and Taylors University, we put students through a workshop and mentorship to produce news stories and related social media content. The students came from journalism and science disciplines.
Five groups received grants and were mentored to work on their chosen topics on respectively food and electronic waste, overconsumption, and biodiversity loss. Check out their stories on the YELL website (July 2025).
A forum was also held and a student in the audience, Dharyaasri Karthigesan, was applauded when she said that young people liked to have fun but also cared about the environment. However, youths needed adults to create spaces for them; at the same time, adults needed to take young people seriously.
With thanks to all the newsrooms and journalists as well as university students who participated! Much gratitude to our subject matter experts, as well as fellow trainers, mentors, and collaborators including Aidila Razak, Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Dexter Chan, Lau Chak Onn, Muhamad Iqbal Fatkhi, Ian Yee, and Hilal Azmi.
Call for Applications ~ For Journalists: Reporting on the Environment
UPDATE: CLOSED – APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED. CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR DETAILS OF THE WORKSHOP.
Are you itching to report on the Malaysian environment? Do you need help shaping your story idea and bringing it to fruition? Are you eager to apply data and mapping in your stories?
If you are nodding, then we have designed the perfect workshop for you!
What this workshop offers
- Hands-on sessions designed to help you develop story ideas and apply practical solutions
- Experienced trainers from different newsrooms and organisations
- Homely setting (literally – it’s set in a house)
- Lots of friendly (but solid) discussion on environmental issues and reporting
- Bonding with like-minded colleagues (we will make it fun for introverts too!)
- Travel reimbursement for participants from outside of Klang Valley
- Four story grants (RM3000 each) for successful post-workshop pitches
Basics
- Date: 15-16 & 22-23 February
- Time: 8.30am – 5pm (Saturdays); 8.30am – 11am (Sundays); sleepover options available
- Venue: Klang Valley
This workshop is organised by Macaranga Media and sponsored by a grant from YELL; the grant is administered by Justice for Wildlife Malaysia.
Who can apply?
- Staff or freelance journalist in Malaysia
Workshop topics
- Pressing environmental concerns and potential stories in Malaysia
- Inclusive reporting on women and children
- Storytelling for impact
- Using data in reporting
- Effective use of environmental assessment impact reports
- Introduction to mapping and satellite imagery
- Data analysis and visualisation
Story grants (post-workshop)
- Participants will submit pitches of environmental reporting by 3 March 2025
- The organiser with a panel of judges will evaluate the pitches
- Successful pitches will each receive a grant of RM3000 to produce a story
- The stories must be published by 30 June and made freely available to the public
- YELL has the non-exclusive rights to republish the stories on its website and make them freely available to the public
Terms and conditions
- Participants must attend workshops on both weekends
- Successful applicants must pay a deposit of RM100 which will be refunded upon full attendance
- Travel stipends and accommodation for those outside the Klang Valley will be provided upon organiser’s discretion
- The organiser’s decision on applications is final
Contact
CLOSED