Social Media and Environmental Reporting

By, Angeline Nekesa

New Media has provided an alternative platform of expression for environmental communication. New media is helping environmental activists to combat the powerful propaganda and immense resources of the traditional media. The adoption of new media has given a level playing field and has democratized the environmental communication and its debate.  The presence of low cost internet access and internet based devices have broken the monopoly of professionally run news organizations. 

In today's information environment, practically anybody can create and disseminate “news” contents. These unregulated “Citizen Journalists” can now galvanize populace support as widely and as effectively as any big budget news organizations. Furthermore, the Internet's ability to provide instantaneous news on a 24/7 basis, consolidated and indexed search engines has made it the primary source of news. Apart from that the convergence of media technology has fundamentally altered the way individuals receive news and gather information and has created new dimension to environment Communication like the User Generated Content. 

The Internet has given power to every individual to express himself globally. Any individual with a digital device and Internet connection can create, publish and distribute media contents. This has effectively put a "journalist" on every street corner of the world and no incident is likely to occur without someone seeing it, recording it and reporting it. The journalistic principles and hierarchy which can become a hindrance for a professional journalist do not come in the way of these Citizen Journalists.  

Social networking websites like Face Book and Twitter have brought together individuals with similar friends or interests into virtual communities. The homogeneity of these communities, and sense of bonding among “friends” with common interests, makes these communities susceptible to being organized and galvanized to support causes. Hence new media has created an omnipresence of “journalists,” coupled with technology that enables to report the news as it develops, communicate the information effectively to large group of like mined people thereby creating a mass movement on issues, happenings etc.

The launch of new media has certainly countered the threat of uncertain and dwindling environmental news in traditional media. Editors and journalists are now delivering sophisticated, in depth reports on various topics ranging from climate change to green marketing using new media platforms. The contributors in these platforms are wide ranging from a specialist to a common man giving it a holistic approach. These information platforms are in turn becoming the primary sources of information to many other media forms.  New media has reduced the distance and increased the proximity between the source and the receiver of the information.

Social Media Platforms

By, Angeline Nekesa.

Social media communication tools keep on emerging on a daily basis, it   important for an environmental journalist to be aware of the latest trends in social media and their specific use.

The diagram below shows some of the social media platform you can use to communicate environmental information. 

Social media landscapes courtesy of: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yjv/galleries/72157625318154047/

New Media and Environmental Journalism

By, Angeline Nekesa

New Media has provided an alternative platform of expression for environmental communication. New media is helping environmental activists to combat the powerful propaganda and immense resources of the traditional media. The adoption of new media has given a level playing field and has democratized the environmental communication and its debate.  The presence of low cost internet access and internet based devices have broken the monopoly of professionally run news organizations. 

In today's information environment, practically anybody can create and disseminate “news” contents. These unregulated “Citizen Journalists” can now galvanize populace support as widely and as effectively as any big budget news organizations. Furthermore, the Internet's ability to provide instantaneous news on a 24/7 basis, consolidated and indexed search engines has made it the primary source of news. Apart from that the convergence of media technology has fundamentally altered the way individuals receive news and gather information and has created new dimension to environment Communication like the User Generated Content. 

The Internet has given power to every individual to express himself globally. Any individual with a digital device and Internet connection can create, publish and distribute media contents. This has effectively put a "journalist" on every street corner of the world and no incident is likely to occur without someone seeing it, recording it and reporting it. The journalistic principles and hierarchy which can become a hindrance for a professional journalist do not come in the way of these Citizen Journalists.  

Social networking websites like Face Book and Twitter have brought together individuals with similar friends or interests into virtual communities. The homogeneity of these communities, and sense of bonding among “friends” with common interests, makes these communities susceptible to being organized and galvanized to support causes. Hence new media has created an omnipresence of “journalists,” coupled with technology that enables to report the news as it develops, communicate the information effectively to large group of like mined people thereby creating a mass movement on issues, happenings etc.

The launch of new media has certainly countered the threat of uncertain and dwindling environmental news in traditional media. Editors and journalists are now delivering sophisticated, in depth reports on various topics ranging from climate change to green marketing using new media platforms. The contributors in these platforms are wide ranging from a specialist to a common man giving it a holistic approach. These information platforms are in turn becoming the primary sources of information to many other media forms.  New media has reduced the distance and increased the proximity between the source and the receiver of the information.

New media and Communication

 By , Angeline Nekesa

"New media" is a form of interactive communication that use the Internet, including podcasts, RSS feeds, social networks, text messaging, blogs, wikis, virtual worlds and more. New media makes it possible for anyone to create, modify, and share content and share it with others, using relatively simple tools that are often free or inexpensive. New media requires a computer or mobile device with Internet access.

The term new media can also refer to various technologies that have emerged or seen rapid growth on a global scale during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium. Most people who have an Internet connection are already aware of some of the major types of new media, which includes social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogs and video sharing sites such as YouTube. New media has also greatly advanced cellular communications in the last twenty years, through applications that connect with the Internet and other technologies. As new media is constantly evolving to connect to as many different platforms and people as possible, one of its most defining characteristics is interactivity.

One of the first forms of new media that the general public became familiar with during the latter-20th century was cyber chatting. Whether one-on-one or within a chat room, chatting online quickly evolved from a mostly text-based tool to one which also included audio visual capabilities via such applications as webcams. Because of the anonymity afforded by the Internet, many people who engaged in online chatting began reconstructing the narrative of their real lives, posing online under a different name, age, gender or occupation. Today, the notion of a new online identity first introduced in chat rooms has expanded to include visual recreation, via the popular web service, Second Life. On Second Life, members can create their own 3D image, also known as an avatar, and interact with other members in a completely virtual world. 

Blogs are another form of new media which have expanded our notions of the levels of interactivity made possible by new media. The ability for bloggers or citizen journalists to post any text, photos or videos for other Internet users could interact with was initially seen as a breakthrough in global communications. The problem, however, of locating blogs which focused on particular topics of interest was then solved by social networking sites, which enabled people to stay abreast of one’s own network of friends and organizations via one website. Social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are also compatible with blogs, cellphones, and other new media applications, enabling people to send and receive updated information to a select group of users.

The hybridization of different types of new media has given way to some concerns over privacy in recent years. The potential to combine different forms of new media into one source, such as connecting to social networking, email, phone, and web banking through a hand-held device, renders one more vulnerable to identity theft via hackers and spyware.

Engaging and accurate reporting on Climate Change

By, Angeline Nekesa

Climate change could be the biggest story of the twenty first century, affecting societies, economies and individuals on a grand scale. Equally enormous are the adjustments that will have to be made to our energy and transportation systems, economies and societies, if we are to mitigate climate change.

All journalists should understand the science of climate change — its causes, its controversies and it’s current and projected impacts. Start by doing your own research from established sources, such as reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or from local scientific experts you trust.

Read and report on the latest research from peer-reviewed scientific journals, or at the very least from reputable popular science publications.

This is particularly true for journalists in the developing world, where the issue generally goes under-reported despite the fact that the poorest countries are most vulnerable to climate change.

Communicating uncertainty

Climate change is the result of a huge unplanned 'experiment', that is releasing masses of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Scientists try to understand it by combining current and historical data with increasingly sophisticated computer models. They look for potential feedback effects that might dampen or exacerbate global warming.

This complex unpredictability makes climate change a particularly uncertain science. Here's how to avoid some reporting pitfalls.

Don't give in to sensationalism. Reporters must often balance editors wanting screaming headlines against scientists' warnings of uncertainty. Don't be tempted to sensationalise — it's better to have an accurate story with nuance than a misleading one that gets you on the front page.

Make the distinction between individual weather events and climate change. Climate is the average weather over a long time. A few extreme weather events don't confirm or refute climate change and it is usually wrong to attribute individual weather events directly to climate change. But if you're covering a story about, say, a devastating cyclone, it is appropriate to contact climatologists or weather experts and report their views on likely trends.

Learn how to convey risk. Climate change scientists usually talk about levels of risk. How do you convey this to the public? The IPCC's terminology may help — the panel gives lay terms for the numerical values it uses for risk.

For instance, the latest IPCC assessment reports that human actions are "very likely" the cause of climate change, meaning there is at least a 90 per cent likelihood that this is true. By the same token, "likely" means at least a 66 per cent likelihood, and "more likely than not" means greater than 50 per cent.

Avoid false balance. Some journalists, trying to be fair and balanced, report the views of climate change skeptics as a counterweight to climate change stories. But this can be a false balance if minority views are given equal prominence to well-accepted science. For example, an overwhelming majority of climatologists believe that average global temperatures have risen compared to pre-1800s levels and that human activity is a significant factor in this.

Of course it's good to air all sorts of views if they are placed into context. So if you report climate change skeptics’ views, also describe their credentials and whether theirs is a minority opinion.

Selling the story

Journalists must make their reports both accurate and appealing. There are many ways to make a good story out of climate change.

Use different angles. Climate change is also a political, business, science, human rights, energy and technology story. Look into all these different angles (and more), and pitch them to different editors. Editors and producers in turn could assign climate change stories to journalists throughout their news organisations, whatever their areas of expertise.

Report on solutions. If journalists don't also report on ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, the public is likely to throw up its hands and lose interest.

Tie stories to interesting people, places and topics. This is especially useful when reporting on solutions or habitats, plants or animals threatened by climate change. Give the issue a face and a voice.

Use reporting aides. If possible, grab people's attention using polls on climate change issues, special investigative reports, graphics to help explain complex data, and of course video, audio and photos. If your budget is tight, consider using social media sites to help with polling and promotion and using video blogs for interviews.

Use different sources. Too often, journalists only report what they hear from government officials speaking at conferences. Scientists are also excellent sources — they generally share your pursuit of the truth. But try to explain what they're saying in everyday terms. Remember to include the voices of other stakeholders, whether local villagers, nongovernmental organisations or top business people. They all have insights to offer.

If officials and scientists mistrust you, be persistent. Try approaching them directly (perhaps at conferences and seminars) to ask the more probing questions that they often won't discuss in public speeches. For highly technical content, you could let a scientist review your draft. This should help you gain trust. But it's not advisable for more general content or with more opinionated sources.

From a global issue to a local story

Most audiences naturally want to know how they will be affected by climate change. The problem is getting meaningful scientific information for specific localities because, apart from some generally well-understood effects like rising sea levels, climate models become less accurate at smaller scales.

But there are many other ways to give climate change a local focus.

Local voices. Interviewing ordinary citizens and giving a voice to those most vulnerable to climate change is an important role for journalists, particularly in developing countries. The poorest communities are most at risk. They may already be struggling to survive and have few resources to adapt. Yet their views generally go unreported in the global coverage of climate change.

Compare local and global causes. Many of climate change's projected impacts — increased flooding or landslides, reduced fresh water supply, changes in animal and plant populations — can also be caused by local environmental change such as deforestation, road building or unsustainable hunting and gathering.

Check for local environmental changes and look for research that could explain how much they stem from local and/or global causes. Be careful not to simply assume they are caused by climate change. Unfortunately, there are often no clear answers, so once again you must provide good context and explain the uncertainties involved — local scientists might be able to help with this.

Explain adaptation. Many stories on climate change, particularly in developing countries, will be about how cities, communities and people can adapt. In some cases this may mean building major new infrastructure or early warning systems. But often it will involve better environmental practices: protecting coastal ecosystems, wetlands and forests; or ensuring sustainable land use and disaster preparedness. And it will always mean changing the way people think, so they can consider possible climate change in their daily decisions. Building this awareness is another crucial role for the media.

Follow the money. How to pay for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries is already a major and controversial topic. Focusing on these issues, such as how National Action Plans for Adaptation will be funded, is a good way to localize stories and give them a harder edge, particularly given the global financial crisis.

Be a watchdog. You could also investigate whether organizations in your country are complying with regulations — particularly as developing countries carry out more mitigation projects under the Clean Development Mechanism and other carbon trading instruments. Government compliance will also become important if future international agreements impose more conditions on developing countries' greenhouse gas emissions.

Reporting from global conferences. Attending a global climate summit can seem overwhelming, with so many people to meet and events to attend. So getting to know some sources in your country's delegation or finding other local attendees can be useful as they can often help you find and assess information. Report on and analyse your government's stance on treaty negotiations. And rather than trying to cover everything, pick a few topics to follow closely. Also check what your fellow journalists are hearing from their own country delegations — you may end up knowing more about the pace of negotiations than your own delegates.

Above all, take heart

If covering climate change seems challenging, remember that the media has come a long way in its coverage. Yes, there is still much uncertainty, but far less than there used to be. And it's also a fascinating topic.

While attempts to tackle the problems can seem frustratingly slow and politically fraught, climate change is now being taken much more seriously, with a global treaty governing emissions and a new agreement likely by the end of this year. The media is finally starting to give the subject the attention it deserves: climate change has become a front page story and looks set to stay there for a long time to come.

Courtesy of James Fahn - the global director for environmental programs at Internews, which operates the Earth Journalism Network.

Support world press freedom day as journalists fight to tell the truth

By, Angeline Nekesa

Today is world press freedom day, which was founded in order to raise awareness of the importance of press freedom - and to remind governments of their duty to respect it in theory and practice. In various events across globe, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, and UNESCO's director-general Irina Bokova issued a joint message underlining the virtues of change in the Arab world. The statement said: 

"Newfound media freedom is promising to transform societies through greater transparency and accountability... Powerful new voices are rising – especially from young people – where they were silent before." 

They also pointed out that media freedom is also facing severe pressures across the world, with 62 journalists having been killed last year as a result of their work. 

"These journalists must not be forgotten and these crimes should not remain unpunished," they write. 

In Kenya the day was marked with an East African journalist’s convention which was opened by the Kenyan President. He encouraged journalists to demonstrate objectivity and balance in their news coverage. The president cited that, the convergence of press freedom and freedom of expression, through various traditional as well as new media, had given rise to an extraordinary level of media freedom, enabled citizens to bring about massive social and political transformations and further enabled the diffusion of vital information to reach a large number of people in a very short span of time. The convention aimed at understanding the best media laws and policies that would continue to protect media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information. 

In Liberia, A Mano River Union regional conference, to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, took place in Monrovia, Liberia, sponsored by UNESCO, DANIDA, ICFJ and CFI (Canal France international) in collaboration with IREX, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the UN Peace Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and other local partners. 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, officially open the conference in her role as the current Chair of the Mano River States Union. The conference attracted ministers responsible for information, media practitioners and journalists from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire and focused on the following themes: 

· Journalism, 

· Peace and Democracy: How to Use Media Freedom to Improve the Democratic Development of a Country, 

· Role of the Media in Transitional Environments, and 

· Fostering Accountability. 

There were special presentations on the importance of preserving media freedoms; promoting voices for peace in West Africa; the role of traditional and new media; women peacemakers and media; press freedom and media regulation in Africa; and creating an enabling environment for media in transition and accountability.

Telling the Story in Pictures

By, Angeline Nekesa

It takes skill to produce articulate images that tell a story; pictures that capture the location, the atmosphere, the prevailing mood and tell the story that needs to be told. Experienced photojournalists set the standard for others to follow. This post talks about how to illustrate stories using pictures.

One of the basics of camerawork, involves holding the shot long enough to make it as usable as possible for clients. Camera operators are often asked to work in difficult circumstances, operators simply have to record events to the best of their ability while paying due attention to their own safety and the safety of their colleagues. Often they have little or no control over how they have to do their jobs and we appreciate whatever they can produce under those circumstances.  It’s sometimes disappointing, therefore, to see wobbly pictures and unnecessary pans and zooms. Beware of pans that begin and end in an interesting way, but draw attention to dull areas in the middle. As a photojournalist, you need to know that, you are operating in an increasingly sophisticated visual world where viewers expect high quality images. They are unlikely to make allowances for pictures that fall below this standard unless they can see an obvious reason for it. Tripods really are essential for all but the most extreme circumstances, when their use is clearly impractical. 

Many of the most effective shots are simply static, well-framed images and the camera only moves to follow the action. Using camera movement to inject pace into a story might work for music videos and certain Showbiz stories, but for news stories and features the pace should be controlled by the editing. Only move the camera is there is a good reason for it. Pans and Zooms, when used properly, are effective ways of illustrating a story. Used inappropriately, they become distracting and, in some cases, impossible to use in a broadcast edit. 

An acceptable use of the pan may be to show the relative positions of people of places, e.g. to show the scene of an explosion relative to the place where the mortar was launched or to show a line-up of a new cabinet. However, even for these types of moves, they must be shot in a way which will make them useful to clients. They should begin and end with a six second static shot and the move should not last for more than about six seconds. This gives an editor the widest range of choices of which part of the shot they need, if they don’t want all 18 seconds of it. It must be shot at a speed that is comfortable to the eye – some camera moves are capable of inducing motion sickness! 

There is often a lack of “set-up” shots of speakers or, better still, relevant alternatives. When they are done, in many instances they are predictable computer or phone set-ups and are often unusable because the hands do not leave the frame which leads to an inevitable jump to the speaker. Having earlier suggested that cameras should move to follow the action, they must also allow the action to leave the frame at times, or it becomes impossible to edit without a jump-cut. Experienced photojournalists edit in their heads as they shoot so that they can plan how their shots can go together. To avoid missing the story, they must sometimes shoot an event that they know will be a jump-cut. In these circumstances, making a mental note to shoot a cutaway later will help the editor out of the problem. 

When framing your pictures, you have to decide what to include and what to exclude. You may be eliminating distractions or holding back some information from the viewer which you will reveal in a subsequent shot. 

To summarize, use pictures effectively, the following checklist can be your guide;

• Hold shots long enough to make them as usable as possible. 
• Tripods are essential for all but the most extreme circumstances. 
• Static, well-framed images are the most effective pictures. 
• The pace of the edit should be controlled by the editing, not by the camera moves. 
• Only move the camera if there is a good reason for it. 
• Pans and zooms can become distracting if used inappropriately. 
• Shoot pans and zooms with at least a six-second static beginning and end shot and the move should not last more than about six seconds. 
• Allow the subject, or the subject’s hands, etc, to leave the frame.

Key Environmental Issues that can be addressed by journalists

By, Angeline Nekesa

For the media to highlight environmental issues, they must be aware of the key environmental issues of concern in Kenya. There are lots of environment stories as long as they research and create contacts with key influential individuals and institutions. This post gives you an oversight on the key environmental concerns in Kenya that can be crafted into simple, informative, educative and entertaining environment stories.

According to the EU (European Union)  Kenya Country Environmental Profile -  to inform the EU Country Strategy Paper    – Final report  – April 2006 , the key environmental issues that a journalist can cover ( from my own perspective) are;

a)      Natural resources degradation (land, water, vegetation cover);

b)     Loss of biodiversity in the country’s main ecosystems including wetlands, forests, marine ecosystem;

c)      Socio-economic environment: dropping socio-economic indicators in health (high prevalence of major diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB), access to water and access to education.

The key focus on your stories can be; the high pressure on land in the high potential zones leads to:  Migration of farmers to the semi-arid areas, applying agricultural practices of the  high potential areas that are unsuitable for these semi-arid areas and causing resource conflicts with the livestock-holders/pastoralists who depend on the semiarid areas for their dry-season grazing; Encroachment of forest areas, leading to de-forestation, soil erosion on hilltops and sloping areas; Utilization of sloping lands, riverbanks without applying appropriate conservation measures; Subdivision of agricultural lands through heritage; eventually resulting in uneconomical units.

Other coverage areas range from; the increased pressure on resources (land, water, forage) in the ASAL areas that has led to degradation of fragile ecosystem, loss of forage, reduction in rangeland productivity, increased water & wind erosion and decline in water sources.

The traditional pastoralist system has become increasingly vulnerable due to: decreased access to the dry season grazing areas in the semi-arid areas; increasing frequency and intensity of droughts through which the herds   cannot recover fully, thus resulting in decrease in production of animals and milk, threatening pastoralists with a growing risk of food insecurity and the deteriorating security situation.

The increasing pressure on natural resources is leading to increased occurrence of resource conflicts: agriculture – agriculture, agriculture – livestock, agriculture – wildlife, livestock – wildlife; and human – wildlife.

You can write about the effects of resource degradation such as: decreased economic base for the major livelihood, loss of economic investments (infrastructure) due to erosion; increased occurrence and intensity of droughts and floods; and increased poverty.

You can write opinion pieces and features on areas/sectors for intervention in addressing resource degradation as outlined below;

a)      Creation of a regulatory framework for the use of natural resources, mainly through the formulation of a comprehensive land policy;

b)     Increasing the agricultural and livestock productivity, adapted to the different agro-ecological zones;

c)      Increasing/restoring the forest cover (reforestation of ‘water towers’ and other catchments), to balance energy demand (fuel wood, charcoal); and

d)     Creation of alternative employment opportunities to reduce the pressure on natural resources.

·   Policy documents by the government and civil societies can be a great source for your stories. Research the following documents; the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of1999 whose main function is to provide for the establishment of an appropriate legal and institutional framework for the management of the environment. The Act is administered by the National Environmental Council and implemented by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).

·        The Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations of 2003, contained in Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 56, Legal Notice 101, have been legislated;

·        The Environment Management Order, 2004 (Lake Naivasha Plan);

·        The Forest Act, 2005;

·        The Water Act, 2002;

Kenya is a signatory of the following international and regional conventions:

• UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), 1992;

• Protocol for Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria Basin, 2004;

• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), 1994;

• Basel Convention on Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes

• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS);

There are a large number of national policies and strategies that incorporate environmental components or are closely related to the key environmental issues:

Agricultural development related Policies & Strategies such as:

Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (2004 – 2014); draft National Livestock Policy, 2006; draft Fisheries Policy, 2005; Kenya Rural Development  Strategy (KRDS) 2002 – 2017 draft Food and Nutrition Policy; and ASALs Policy, 2004.

Other Sectoral Policies & Strategies are: Energy Policy – Sessional Paper No 4 of 2004; Forest Policy, 2004 and Forest Act, 2005; Water Act, 2002 and associated Policies; Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act, 1989; and Mining Act and Policies.

National Plans & Policies such as: National Development Plans; The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP); and Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) for Employment and Wealth Creation (2003-2007).

Other key institutions involved in environment and that can be great sources of stories for a savvy environment journalist are:

• Ministries: (i) Planning and National Development, (ii) Finance, (iii) Agriculture, including KARI; (iv) Livestock and Fisheries (Vet. Department), (v) Water and Irrigation, (vi) Lands and Settlement, (vii) Trade and Industry, (viii) Energy, (ix) Tourism & Wildlife

• National institutions/Private Sector:

• Civil Society Organizations focusing on environment issues;

Okey, there you go, the ball is in your court, go get the stories before another journalist does so…………..,,, you know the implications to this…….

Finding Environment stories.

By Angeline Nekesa

Some of the best local sources of environmental stories are non-governmental organizations, universities and research institutions, and government agencies but all these tend to have an agenda of their own, so watch out for biasness. Also these bodies tend not to be geared up for dealing with media enquiries and sometimes positive publicity to favor their organizations.

To really take the pulse of an environmental story you need many varied sources. And for a journalist in need of color and context, along with strong quotes and a direct connection with audiences, you need to build rapport with people and find out about their environmental issues.

People leaving in the slums, overpopulated and rural areas know better than most people what is happening in their environment. They depend more directly on the environment than most other people for their food, water and livelihoods and they have tremendous knowledge about what is good and bad.

Talk especially to old people, who may be carrying around generations of traditional knowledge in their heads. The elders are often better placed than scientists to explain things like deforestation trends and climate change in terms your audiences will understand. Talk also to young people. It is their environment too. And they will be inheriting what we leave behind, so it is worth reminding audiences that our planet is not just for us but for future generations too.

If you can’t find a story to follow, then look to the international scene to find out what is going on then use your local sources to make the story relevant to your local audiences.For international stories, follow the intergovernmental negotiations of rules to address climate change and biodiversity loss by reading the Earth Negotiations Bulletin http://www.iisd.ca/ Also track what the best international journalists are writing about. Try the Dot Earth blog at the New York Times http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/; or the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment and BBC Online environment pages http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/default.stm.

Make international contacts too. You can meet people and share ideas at the Research and Media Network http://researchandmedia.ning.com. Contact international environmental organizations such as WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and asked their press officers to put you on their mailing list for press releases.

Courtesy of the Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association

Principles of Reporting on the Environment

Environmental journalism should aim at making the masses understand the complex and dynamic nature of the natural and built environments resulting from the interactions of their biological, physical, social, economic and cultural aspects. Further, it should facilitate the acquisition of knowledge, values, attitudes and practical skills needed to participate in a responsible and effective way in anticipating and solving environmental problems for quality and sustainable living.

Environmental reporting should go beyond the discussions of environmental issues to the analysis of conditions and trends in the environment and their causes, assess and interpret the implications and impacts of these trends to human health, the economy and ecosystems; and provide an assessment of actual and potential societal solutions to environmental problems.

Balanced environmental reporting aims at answering fundamental questions about the interactions between the environment and socio-economic factors, which are significant to policy makers and the public.

UNEP defines at least four fundamental questions for state of the environment reporting. These are;

·        What is happening ?- should give a highlight of the environmental conditions and trends

·        Why is it happening ?- a description of the human and natural causes of these changes is given

·        Are the changes significant?- discuss the health, economic, social and ecological implications of the environmental story to the public

·        What is, or how could we respond? - suggest solutions and the environmental implications of societal responses.

The environmental reporter should increase awareness and understanding of environmental trends and conditions, their causes and consequences among all stakeholders; he should provide a foundation for improved decision making at all levels, from the individual to national governments and international organizations and, facilitate the measurements of progress towards sustainability through the provision of credible information.

The environmental reporter must have a holistic view of environmental issues and understand that environmental reporting is just like any other reporting. The journalist should provide adequate background information on the environmental issues in consideration to enable the audience make informed choices and decisions.

Clear links should be made between all the components, so that the audience understands their stewardship role. This is to make the audience internalize environmental issues and associate with them. It also encourages participation in environmental debates and enhances audience feedback.

If Only.........Nature Could Wisper...: Environmental journalism; a key to understanding n...

If Only.........Nature Could Whisper...: Environmental journalism; a key to understanding n...: Environmental journalism is yet to develop as a full-fledged field within journalism. Ther...

Environmental journalism; a key to understanding nature….

Environmental journalism is yet to develop as a full-fledged field within journalism. There are a hundred stories waiting to be done but not enough reporters who take the trouble to work on them in depth. 

Environmental issues are front and center for much of the world. Evidence available indicates that environmental concerns have not been given a wider coverage by the media especially in developing countries .The reverse is the case in developed countries.

In Kenya, environmental issues are more visible in form of policy documents with occasional rhetorical policy pronouncements. The media which is supposed to play the informative role is ignorant to educate and popularize the masses on issues concerning the environment.

Media houses tend to regard environmental stories as dry and less lively as opposed to political and human interest stories. Editors also believe that environmental stories are too technical for people to understand therefore they should be given less coverage or no coverage at all, some believe that environmental stories will not  sale the publication , some say environmental stories do not have a readership …… the justification goes on and on…

The media like the public for that matter, have so far, failed to set the environmental agenda consistently. Yet environmental issues are of great concern…issues of life and death. They are issues of sustainability of the earth and the future of human beings.

My urgent concern here is that the media takes the lead in dealing with environmental issues. Journalists should first appreciate and love the environment before writing about it or sending the stories to the masses. They should understand the importance of writing about the environment so that they can change their negative attitude on environmental coverage.

Scholars must research, write and share their findings and opinion with the media so that they can disseminate it to the masses. They should simplify environmental information so that it is easier for the media to disseminate to the masses without jargon.

Next Time...... A poem on environmental Conservation

 

Next Time , By Graeme King

When man is gone and wiped from history’s pages

the Earth will still revolve around the Sun,

and start anew, evolving through the ages

repairing all the damage we have done.

 As evolution starts another stanza,

as microdots of life form into seeds,

will humans be regarded as a cancer

and bypassed as a payment for our deeds?

 Imagine planet Earth without pollution,

and picture every species running free,

no forests laid to waste in destitution,

with crystal air and effervescent sea.

 No creatures slaughtered blindly by the greedy,

no skies of lead and cloudy overcast,

a Paradise where nothing would be needy,

an Eden where the time of Man is past.

 The Earth will wait, and sand will turn to granite,

the time will come when man pays for his crime,

we had our chance, and chose to harm our planet,

will humankind be overlooked next time?