The fate of climate action reporting: is the media responsible?


As the world is bombarded with different discussions about Climate Change emergency, journalists, scientists, civil society across Africa and France have raised great concerns of appeal that show that there is more to be done in order to get a free world from global warming.
This was raised during the ongoing 3-days’ seminar on Journalism and Climate Emergency organized by the CFI Dunia project in Addis Ababa- capital of Ethiopia.
The conference that has gathered professionals of the media field, experts, scientists, civil society representatives from France and Africa is aimed at reflecting collectively on the attention given to climate change in the media, the stakes and challenges of covering climate issues.
While giving the welcome remarks on Monday 16th December, 2019, Ms Anne-Sophie Ricco, the CFI project manager for Africa said that since climate emergency is currently one of the most important global issues, Africa is the continent that is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
She added that the objective of the seminar is to enable the media and the civil society to come to a common understanding on issues concerning climate change news coverage, the responsibility of the media in public engagement and the impact of an overly negative narrative on public perception.
Mr. Amare Aregawi, the Chairman for Ethiopian Media Council while giving a foreword on the first day of the seminar said that the media has got a key role to play in the response to climate change.
He added that they [media] have a responsibility to inform the general public of its causes, relay existing solutions and adaptation opportunities as well as to monitor public policies implemented at local, national and international level.
WHERE IS THE GAP?
25 years of complete failure by African journalists
In a panel discussion on the question about simplicity of talking about climate change, these questions were raised:
How do African media organizations currently cover climate change? Is current coverage reflective of the urgency of the issues? To what extent is climate change a global, cross-cutting but also complex issue? What shortcomings and obstacles do media organizations face in terms of the coverage of the issue? What can be done to improve coverage? Why is there a greater focus on consequences rather than causes?
In that discussion, Wanjohi Kabukuru, a veteran journalist from Kenya disclosed that African journalists have had 25 years of total failure in telling stories of impact about climate change.
“The challenge we have in African journalism is that we have journalists who are very good but are competitors and those who are joy riders,” said Kabukuru.
He added that journalists are drowned in the myth of reporting stories of crisis and forget about solutions angled stories.
Kabukuru advised that journalists have a task to understand their role as story tellers and not competitors.
“Once we understand that we are not scientists or policy makers but story tellers, then we can be good story tellers,” he advised.
Denial of space for stories
In a discussion the media, climate change denial and fake news: who is responsible?
Mr. Abaas Mpindi, the CEO of Media Challenge Initiative in Uganda brought to the attention of the house that there are a lot of cases related to climate change being dropped from the news rooms.
“Personally, I had organized for the Media Expo on Climate Change in Uganda. I contacted one of the TV newsroom editors and asked for his support and he told me that climate change is not real,” said Abaas.
In relation to his story, a question comes that if that was him asking for a cooperation with the newsroom, what about journalists who are covering climate change related issues?
It is evident that there is a problem of denial of space for climate change stories by the Media.
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I
was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site?
I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers
and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be
awesome if you could point me in the direction of
a good platform.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However I am going through problems with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is
there anybody having identical RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
Also visit my page :: game mega888
Hi there, yes this post is truly nice and I
have learned lot of things from it about blogging.
thanks.
Here is my web blog – 918kaya agent
bookmarked!!, I really like your site!
My web-site mega888apk download
I do consider all the concepts you’ve presented in your post.
They are really convincing and can definitely work.
Still, the posts are too brief for beginners.
May just you please extend them a bit from next time?
Thanks for the post.
Stop by my web blog … mega888 download – https://question2answer.00web.net/index.php?qa=42904&qa_1=mega888-reddits-overview-of-naked-reddits-poker –
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
I’m quite sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
My web site :: xe88 apk
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show
up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say excellent blog!
Feel free to visit my web page mega888 malaysia
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply
placing the other person’s blog link on your page at suitable
place and other person will also do similar for you.
my homepage :: mega888 malaysia (http://customingenuity.org/viewtopic.php?id=93590)
It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read even more things about it!
I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be utilizing?
I’m having some small security problems with my
latest website and I’d like to find something more secure.
Do you have any suggestions?
Feel free to surf to my web site :: 918kaya game
Hi there, just wanted to say, I loved this article.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
Also visit my web site ex88 (m88-cvf.com)
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous
blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Also visit my webpage :: 918kaya slot (game7vienngocrong.net)
I always used to read paragraph in news papers but now as I am a user of web so from now I am
using net for articles or reviews, thanks to web.
Feel free to surf to my web page; pussy888
Howdy! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new
iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all
your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
Also visit my blog; mega888 kiosk download
Аfter exploring a number of the blog posts on your website,
I reɑlly lik your ѡaʏ of blogging. I saѵed it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near future.
Take a look at my websіte as well and let mme know your оpinion.
Hello to all, it’s in fact a fastidious for me to visit this site, it consists of useful
Information.
whoah this weblog is great i like studying your articles.
Keep up the good work! You understand, many individuals are hunting round for this information, you could help them greatly.
I рay a quick visit every day a few blogs and inforjation sijtes
to read aгticles or reviews, except this weƅsite gіves feature
based articles.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or
did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to
know where u got this from. thanks a lot
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after
I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with useful info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire group might be grateful to you.
We truly appreciate and we look forward to delivering important articles