Experts call for humanising media coverage of environmental issues

AMMAN — Further partnerships between conservationists and journalists are needed to increase environmental awareness among the public, particularly on means for the mitigation and adaption to the impact of climate change, experts said.

The role of media outlets is to point out the positive and negative paths the government takes concerning environmental issues, said Raouf Dabbas, senior adviser to the minister of environment.

He added that environmental issues are often seen as minor topics, as opposed to economics and politics, highlighting “huge” opportunities for investments in the green economy field.

Journalists have a big role in educating the public about climate change issues, which may seem complex, in a simplified manner that readers can relate to and find appealing, said German Deputy Ambassador Ralph Schroer.

Speaking at a conference marking the conclusion of a three-day workshop for journalists on climate change issues this week, Schroer added that through asking the right questions, journalists can inform the affected communities of the issue and how to adapt to potential changes. 

For his part, Saeb A. Khresat, dean of the agriculture faculty at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and professor of natural resources and environment, criticised the “inconsistency” in media coverage of environmental issues, adding that journalists need further “legitimate and credible” sources for environmental information.

He encouraged them to simplify jargon by using analogies that could bring the ideas and images closer to the public.

The difficulty with covering climate change-related issues is that it is usually bad news, said Suzanne Baaklini, who represented Deutsche Welle, citing a lack of awareness raising media content regarding the issue, as most topics cover the environmental disaster when it strikes.

This may lead to apathy or disinterest in environmental topics, she noted, adding that “innovation in style” by giving a human face to the story can help in further engaging the reader or the viewer.