At World Press Freedom Day commemoration: Stakeholders urge journalists to redouble efforts in environmental reporting.

Panellists during the conference

Stakeholders have challenged journalists in Cameroon to step up their interest in environmental reporting as the country like other areas of the globe continues to grapple with issues related to climate change.

The call was made during a conference organised in Yaounde on May 2, by the Ministry of Communication. The confab was organised in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.



The gathering was part of commemorative activities to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3. The day was observed this year under the theme: “A press for the planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis”.

Deliberations at the conference took place under the theme: “The role of the media in addressing the challenges of climate change in Cameroon”. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo, guided discussions.

The panellists highlighted the role of journalists as agents of development. In this light, they all agreed that, journalists remain primordial in informing and educating the population about the unprecedented environmental emergencies that pose a threat to human survival.

Prof Zogo called on journalists to continuously and effectively educate, sensitise and inform all actors involved in preserving the environment. 

He said through the work of journalists, people will come to understand the plight of the planet, and will be mobilised to take collective action to protect it.

Zogo reiterated that as agents of development, media practitioners need to be engaged and contribute to fight against activities that destroy the environment.

 

Journalists share experiences

Environmental journalist and Publisher of Eco-Outlook newspaper, Elias Ngalame, one of the speakers, regretted the fact that journalists shy away from environmental reporting, despite its urgency and the several opportunities it presents.

Ngalame called on journalists to be more involved with climate change and environmental reporting. 

He advised young and early career professionals to create contacts with environmental institutions and civil society organisations for resources.

The National President of the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Jude Viban, underscored that climate change is relatively new in the country. 

Viban said there is therefore a need to upgrade the knowledge of journalists about climate change and make them interested in reporting about environmental issues.

While highlighting that there is a lot of science and jargons in environmental issues, he underscored the need for journalists to tell climate change stories in an interesting and compelling manner.

“Climate change is now closer to us and now more than ever. We need to start getting involved as journalists, and do something about it, by making reports that will incite some action,” Viban remarked, adding that: “That is our purpose, to give people information that can help them make informed choices”.

He equally added that, the lack of resources to carryout in-depth research on environmental issues is part of the reason more journalists are not reporting on environmental issues. 

The Regional Advisor of Communication and Information Sector at the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa, Nejib Mokni, called for actions to be taken to empower journalists. 

He said in the past 15 years, there have been some 750 attacks on journalists and news outlets reporting on the environment, and the frequency of such attacks is rising. 

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