Among the unfortunate legacies of the communist era is severe environmental damage in the countries that were affiliated with the Soviet camp.

To better equip journalists to inform the public about environmental issues, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is financing four workshops to be held in Hungary and Poland during November. The program is administered by the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Center for Independent Journalism in Budapest and the Polish Journalists Association.

More than 60 selected participants representing print and broadcast media are expected to take part in the workshops, which will be taught by American journalists who are accomplished in environmental journalism.

The goal is to prepare journalists not only to report on environmental problems but also on their solutions. To this end the program includes general environmental knowledge, techniques for source development and general knowledge on workable approaches as journalists explore solutions to an environmental problem and motivate the public to become involved.

The Hungarian workshops will be held November 2-6 in Budapest at the Center for Independent Journalism and November 9-13 in Kecskemet. The Polish programs will begin in Kazimierz nad Wisla, November 16-20, and will conclude with a workshop in Krakow, November 23-27.

Space in the workshops is limited and expected to fill rapidly, but people seeking additional information about the program may contact Whayne Dillehay, Vice President, International Center for Journalists, 1616 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, U.S.A. Tel: (202) 737-3700. Fax: (202) 737-0530. E-mail: whayne@icfj.org.