The West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (WAJESHA) has trained Ghanaian journalists, researchers and university administrators on ethical climate research communication, equipping them with skills to translate academic findings into accessible stories that can inform public understanding and support evidence-based decision-making.
The training, organised in partnership with the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED) in Kumasi, Ghana, focused on helping participants transform complex academic findings into accessible stories for newspapers, radio, television and digital platforms.
The programme was designed to bridge the gap between academic research and public understanding by equipping participants with skills to communicate evidence-based findings in ways ordinary people can easily understand.
USTED’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Boateng, said research should not only be measured by publications and citations but also by its impact on society.
“Research that is not communicated effectively is knowledge in prison,” Boateng said, urging researchers to integrate communication into the research process rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Public Understanding
Boateng said the value of research goes beyond academic recognition, stressing that the ultimate measure of success should be the positive change it creates in society.
“Do not measure success only by publication. Measure success by transformation. Do not ask merely, ‘Was my paper published?’ Ask, ‘Whose life changed because of my research?’” he told participants.
Dr Christopher Owusu-Ansah, Chairman of USTED’s Publication Board, said the workshop was organised to address the challenge of important research findings remaining inaccessible to the public.
He noted that many studies conducted in African universities end up in international journals that are often difficult for ordinary citizens and policymakers to access.
“The research that is done is buried behind paywalls,” Owusu-Ansah said, adding that research funded through public resources should be communicated in ways that support better decision-making, development and public awareness.
He said collaboration between universities and media organisations was necessary to ensure that research findings move beyond academic circles and reach the communities they are intended to benefit.
WAJESHA Trains Researchers on Effective Climate Research Communication
Drawing on newsroom experience, WAJESHA facilitators guided participants on how to identify the public value of research findings and present them through different media platforms without compromising accuracy.
WAJESHA New Media Editor, Daniel Abugri, introduced participants to the principles of news writing and explained how research becomes relevant when the public can understand its impact.
“A study becomes news when people can see how it affects their lives,” Abugri said.
WAJESHA Director, Engr. Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, led sessions on writing research in a format journalists can understand and publish.
He said researchers often produce valuable studies but struggle to explain why their findings matter to communities.
“Researchers often write excellent studies but fail to explain why their findings matter to ordinary people,” Mohammed-Nurudeen said.
The final session focused on adapting research findings for television, radio and digital platforms, with contributions from Mohammed-Nurudeen, Abugri and independent film producer Afrifa Smith Charles.
Charles explained that research communication must be adapted to suit different platforms, noting that a short video report requires a different storytelling approach from a lengthy academic paper.
Participants Embrace New Approach to Sharing Knowledge
Participants said the training changed their understanding of how research can be communicated beyond academic publications.
Dr Daniel Nimo of USTED’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies said the workshop provided practical lessons on presenting research findings as stories that ordinary people could understand.
Engr. Anna Amankwah Minkah, a lecturer in USTED’s Civil Engineering Department, said the programme reinforced the importance of communicating research in a simple and accessible manner.
The training concluded with a WAJESHA Capstone Newsroom Simulation, allowing participants to apply the skills gained during the sessions.
WAJESHA said the initiative forms part of its broader effort to strengthen science, climate, environment, health and agriculture reporting across West Africa.
The organisation, a non-profit journalism project of the Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS), works with journalists, researchers, universities and development partners to improve evidence-based reporting and public understanding of critical issues.
As African universities continue to expand research activities, organisers said the next challenge is ensuring that knowledge generated within academic institutions reaches the people and communities it is designed to serve.
Share this
