The Network of African Journalists Specialising in Sustainable Development and Climate Change today released the results of a revealing survey at the 3rd Annual African Media Convention (AMC) being held from 15 to 17 May 2024 in Accra, Ghana. The survey, conducted between 10 and 13 May 2024, highlights the financial challenges faced by journalists covering environmental issues across the continent.
Among the 150 journalists surveyed, a worrying trend emerges: more than 74.7% say they have abandoned or reduced coverage of environmental issues due to a lack of financial resources. These figures reveal a pressing crisis in African journalism, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by those seeking to report on crucial issues such as climate change, pollution and sustainability.
The study shows that 85.3% of journalists believe they do not have sufficient resources to do their job properly. Among the main reasons given, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic decline and lack of advertising top the list. In addition, 82.7% of respondents reported financial difficulties over the past three years, citing reasons such as inflation, high rents and the scarcity of advertising.
In addition, almost half of journalists (44%) acknowledged a lack of intellectual preparation for tackling environmental issues, underlining the crucial need for specialist training in this area. In addition, almost two-thirds of respondents have witnessed a violation of press freedom in the last three years, illustrating the risks inherent in covering sensitive subjects.
The voice of environmental journalists
Despite these challenges, a glimmer of hope is emerging: more than a quarter of journalists (26.7%) note a growing public interest in environmental issues. At the same time, almost a third (32.7%) identify a growing demand for topics such as climate change, sustainable development and biodiversity.
The results of this survey carried out by the Network of African Journalists Specialising in Sustainable Development and Climate Change underline the urgent need for concerted action to support environmental journalists in Africa. As the climate crisis intensifies, it is imperative to ensure that these voices continue to inform and educate the public about the critical environmental issues facing the continent.
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The survey is being presented as part of the 3rd Annual African Media Convention (AMC) being held from 15 to 17 May 2024 in Accra, Ghana. The pre-report version of the survey will be available in full on 25 May 2024 on the Africa21 think tank website.
The CMA was launched in 2021 by the East African Editors Forum, the liaison office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Unesco national office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The AMC has become a key forum for advancing media freedom, innovation and sustainability on the African continent. The event is inspired by World Press Freedom Day, celebrated every year on 3 May. World Press Freedom Day set the tone for environmental journalists this year, with the theme “Press for the Planet: Journalism and the Environmental Crisis”.
Boris Ngounou
