Reporting shared narratives: establishing transboundary cooperation through media.

This chapter addresses an often overlooked area in water diplomacy: the role of journalists in ensuring transboundary cooperation in shared rivers, shaping perceptions and contributing to define the scope of water debates and negotiations. A good example of balanced water coverage is described, i.e. the InfoNile.org, which is a geojournalism platform that combines interactive maps with stories to promote local data journalism on topics related to water and the environment in the Nile Basin. InfoNile is bridging gaps between Nile Basin scientists, researchers, journalists and the general public to increase mutual awareness and understanding of the various dimensions of covering water.

Science communication skills for water coverage. Case study: IHE-SciDev training.

In May 2017, a workshop was held in Cairo, Egypt, to explore ways in which researchers doing research on topics related to the Nile Basin can work with journalists, aiming for better communication of science through media. The workshop hosted 40 participants, including communication specialists, scientists, academics, policy makers and NGOs' representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and international organizations. The workshop concluded that researchers and journalists needed more training in communicating and reporting science. In this respect, IHE Delft Institute partnered with SciDev.Net to develop and run an online course, 'Science Communication Skills for Water Cooperation and Diplomacy', which is described in this chapter. The main objective of the online course that took place between October 2018 and March 2019 was to build the capacity of scientists to engage with the media and effectively communicate science, and to deal with the River Nile as a vehicle of cooperation and development rather than conflict. Overall, the course had largely met the desired objectives. Most respondents greatly appreciated practical exercises, especially those on writing a press release and designing a communication strategy. The training platform was accessible and easy to use for most participants. However, there were areas that did not work as expected, most notably the length of the course.

Reporting on water diplomacy: does gender matter?

In media, donor reports and research articles that address gender and water management, the focus is usually on water supply and sanitation at household level or local management in the agricultural sector. Transboundary water governance, water diplomacy and conflict prevention at an interstate level is seen as a man's world. Indeed, numbers show that women are under-represented in decision-making positions in transboundary river basin organizations. Often, this is not further reflected, as political processes and decisions are assumed to be neutral. What does the gendered nature of water diplomacy mean for reporting on water conflicts and water cooperation? Across the world women are increasingly taking up spaces which previously were dominated by men, also in water diplomacy. However, often women are not portrayed as leaders, experts and agents of change, but as victims or vulnerable groups. Gender-sensitive reporting can change this - by representing female decision makers in their professional roles, but also by pointing to their absence - e.g. pointing to all-male delegations or expert panels. Another aspect is to concentrate reporting not only on the (male) leaders, but to show the variety of actors who contribute to any negotiation or agreement - which automatically brings a more diverse picture of the relevant actors. Finally, it is crucial to question seemingly 'neutral', 'usual' and taken-for-granted practices and ask if there wouldn't be alternative ways to address water conflicts if other actors were to be given a voice.

Media and water, is the glass half full?

This paper deals with writing a story about water, e.g. the River Nile. It suggests that, to find a story, an interesting one, with a new angle, journalists need to be resourceful and attend relevant events related to water. They should then closely follow up news and analyses, especially in local media, while simultaneously keeping an eye on international organizations and subscribing to their mailing lists - and, most importantly, talking informally to experts. It suggests that the writer should put all his knowledge and practice to a difficult test, starting from finding a new idea, then reaching an expert who is willing to give comments, and making a real balance by bringing together all the voices from the different countries and diverse views, and seeking balance and objectivity while writing the story.

Satisfy people's thirst for information: SIWI experience in training water journalists.

This chapter focuses more on experiences of communication and reporting on water conflicts and cooperation; it offers insights on covering sensitive issues, going beyond national interest, and how journalists can address key issues, in a way that informs constructive policies and boosts transboundary cooperation. Journalists must understand that while many water problems have technical solutions they don't exist in a political vacuum and the decision-making processes over major shared water resources like the Nile include numerous ministries or agencies with differing views, mandates, and interests, often in competition with each other.