Around the world, journalists who report on environmental problems such as deforestation, pollution and climate change, are forming networks and associations. The largest of these—the Society of Environmental Journalists in the United States—was formed in 1990 and has over 1400 members. Since then, journalists have formed new networks in Africa, Asia and other regions. These activities that these groups undertake include training programmes, advice to journalists, and advocacy to raise the prominence of environmental topics in the media. In Africa and Asia, these networks also act to raise funds to support better quality reporting on environmental issues. James Fahn, director of the Earth Journalism Network, notes however that donors generally seem less willing to support these journalism associations than they do environmental advocacy groups.
Networks of environment journalists are able to work in ways that would be impossible for individual reporters. The Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists has, for instance, built an SMS-based news service that connects hyperlocal reports on environmental issues and disaster events to a national audience. The project included the development of a new website and trainings held with local journalists and their audiences.
Another way that such networks have acted is to protest the dangers that environmental journalists face because their reporting challenges powerful elites. In September 2012, the Earth Journalism Network and the Society of Environmental Journalists circulated a joint petition calling on the Cambodian government to launch a full investigation into the murder of environmental journalist Hang Serei Oudom.
Global networks and associations Earth Journalism Network
Africa: regional and continent-wide associations African Federation of Science Journalists African Network of Environmental Journalists Network of Climate Journalists in the Greater Horn of Africa Pan-African Media Alliance on Climate Change
Africa: national associations Benin: Association des Journalistes et Communicateurs Scientifiques du Benin Burkina Faso: Association des Journalistes et Communicateurs scientifiques du Burkina Faso Cameroon: SciLife—Cameroon's Association of Science Journalists and Communicators Democratic Republic of Congo: Réseau National des Journalistes Congolais Pour l'Environnement Ethiopia: Ethiopian Environment Journalists Association Mozambique: Rede de Jornalistas Ambientais de Mozambique Niger: Association des Journalistes Scientifiques du Niger Nigeria: Nigeria Association of Science Journalists Rwanda: Rwanda Association of Science Journalists Sierra Leone: Federation of Environmental Journalists in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone: The Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association Sierra Leone: Union of Environmental Journalists South Africa: South African Science Journalists’ Association Sudan: Sudanese Environmental Journalists Association Sudan: Sudanese Society for Scientists and Environmental Journalists Tanzania: Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania Togo: Science Journalists and Communicators of Togo Tunisia: Tunisia Environment Reporting Network Uganda: Uganda Science Journalists' Association Zambia: African Network of Environmental Journalists - Zambia Chapter Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Environmental Journalists Association
Asia: national associations Indonesia: Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists Pakistan: National Council of Environmental Journalists Pakistan: Environmental Journalists Association of Pakistan (EJAP) Pakistan: Pakistan Environmental Journalists Philippines: Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists
References
External links Journalists & Writers Archives - Green Africa Directory