Environmental journalism is the collection, verification, production, distribution and exhibition of information regarding current events, trends, and issues associated with the non-human world. To be an environmental journalist, one must have an understanding of scientific language.
Environmental journalists are pivotal to the climate and environmental sustainability movement. With photographs and videos, they can educate people about the severe condition of the environment while utilizing the power of media to bring about positive changes that can improve the quality of life in our communities.
They are to educate people about the serious state of the environment and use the power of the news media to bring about changes to improve the quality of the air, water, wildlife and natural resources. Environmental journalists are expected to be advocates for changes to improve the quality of the environment and planet at large.
But going by the above we will understand that environment journalism is not effective in Nigeria due to the following reasons
The Science of Climate Change and its Jargon
The Media as an Environmental Watchdog
Challenges of Investigative Environmental Journalism Today
Telling a Story using Digital Media
Ethics and Confidentiality
Managing Crisis and Risks
The Science of Climate Change and its Jargon
Lack of environmental and scientific training. Reporters without specialized training might ignore complicated environmental stories altogether or, if they attempt them, the results might be less than satisfactory for readers, how can u report what you don’t know.
Ethics and Confidentiality
Limited access to governmental data on environmental conservation.Must Environmental Journalists find it difficult to get access to useful information due to its confidentiality and secrecy.
Challenges of Investigative Environmental Journalism Today
The existence of forest mafias threatens their professional activities as well as their private lives.
Wildlife journalists have to balance the incongruity that comes as a produce of the short attention span that is affecting news consumers in a society that unfolds around consumerism combined with the fact that environmental stories are frequently complex and difficult to report.
Citizens’ experiences of many environmental issues are mediated, in large part, by the interests of governmental agencies as well as the private sector (big corporations). These two spheres continually influence the media’s presentation of environmental issues putting at stake public perceptions.
The Media as an Environmental Watchdog
In recent years, it seems as though media interest in the environment has taken a backseat to other issues impacting the international scenario. Environmental journalists have to deal with the priority of other subjects such as terrorism, poverty, economy, politics, and international relations.
Lack of funds for Environmental Journalists
Environmental Journalists have to face the lack of training, resources or support from news editorials or sponsors, since Environmental journalism is time and resources consuming it will be difficult to cover it without adequate funds.
The recognition of these challenges and a solution to them will impact the creation of a collective dialogue and deliberation on environmental issues that are of broad public concern.
Therefore, there is need to educate and empower scientists andjournalists to be more effective at communicating about thecomplexities of climate science and the societal and economicimpacts of a warming planet on its population.
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