06th December, 2018 Pacific journalists are facing ongoing challenges in climate reporting because newsrooms and the public at large tend to favour political, parliament and court reporting, according to a veteran journalist.
Chairing a panel discussion at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pacific Environment Journalists Network (PEJN) Climate Capacity Building workshop in Nadi this week, Mr. Netani Rika stated that the “daily life of the newsroom” is taken up by court and parliament reporting.
“In Tonga and in Fiji, a lot is taken up by things happening in the government and these things have been considered more important.”
PEJN Vice President, Georgina Kekea from the Solomon Islands said that although climate change is as the forefront, reporters assigned to cover climate and environment news face challenges.
“There are programs every week for climate change, aired on radio stations and broadcast on televisions. But we also have environmental issues. We have the platform there, but the challenges for us are getting the stories, going out to rural islands and going to that island is difficult and it cost money.”
PNG NBC Radio Acting Chief News Editor, Ben Kerdoga stated that the level of attention given to climate change and environment reporting is further down the line when ranking the most important issues.
“While we really want climate change and environment to be reported at the forefront, to continuously update what is happening in our respective front and in that way, we can give a broader picture of what is happening in our island nations and I think it’s time that we really need to move out.”
Kedroga suggested that newsrooms should dedicate a specific person to cover climate and environmental issues to ensure coverage. Journalists were reminded that if climate change will not be addressed now, its impact will threaten the region.
“Climate change is an important thing for the people and while politics and the economy are important also, if we don’t address it soon it is going to threaten some of our communities soon and people are going to disappear, islands are going to disappear” said Mr. Rika.
Journalists from nine Pacific Island countries including Journalism students from the University of the South Pacific (USP) are participating in the week-long workshop facilitated by UNDP and the PEJN funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
The PEJN consists of regional journalists who are passionate about environmental issues affecting the Pacific region and raising awareness for more action.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.