Satellite data for journalists: turning Earth images into stories

This webinar shows journalists and climate reporters, at a practical level, how to use  satellites and cloud computing to collect and process images of the Earth’s surface.

This technology turns satellite data into detailed maps and measurements that show how land is used and how it changes over time. It relies on high-resolution imagery, automatic analysis tools, and online platforms that make the information easy to access and use by anyone. Climate journalists can use satellite-based land monitoring technology to find stories, add evidence, and visualise environmental change. The data show how forests, cities, farmland, and natural areas evolve over time, helping reporters uncover trends linked to climate change, deforestation, urbanisation, or land degradation.

The workshop will focus on the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS), exploring its datasets and applications. The specific tools that will be presented and used during the session are the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, which offers immediate access to a vast amount of open and free Earth observation data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites, and the CLMS Data Viewer, which allows users to visualise and interact with CLMS products directly.

The webinar is designed to bring the world of environmental journalism closer to Earth observation technology. Through presentations and practical examples, participants will discover how to turn satellite data into evidence-based journalistic stories.

What you will learn:

• Where to find the data, how to access it, and what quality guarantees it offers
• How to move from data to story

Co-organised by the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) and the European Journalism Centre (EJC)