Climate change and its effect is a topic so broad and long term that it can be very difficult for news stories to be as attention grabbing as stories on politics, society or crime that our readers are passionate and care about.
Media has been focusing on the scale and urgency of the environmental dimension of climate change such as floods and famine as opposed to emphasising the societal dimensions of how people are affected by or cause climate change.
The latter has been effective at conveying the dangers of climate change but does little to inspire and motivate the public and demonstrate that positive change is possible.
If climate change messages do not target communities, they will not spread widely enough. A lot of technical terminologies have been used that need to be explained and it is the role of journalists to simplify these for their audiences.
Kenyan media has a crucial role in the fight against climate change through its power of shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions that can have a significant impact on how society addresses the issue of climate change.
One way Kenyan media can help is by providing accurate and comprehensive news content about the causes and effects of climate change, including the latest scientific research, policy development and real-life impacts.
Media can also provide potential solutions showcasing successful examples of sustainable practices to ensure that the public has a clear understanding of the issue and is able to engage in informed discussions.
Media should strive to include a diverse range of perspectives on climate change, including those of scientists, policymakers, activists and members of affected communities. This can help to ensure that different viewpoints are represented and that the public is exposed to a variety of ideas and solutions. This can also help to provide authoritative information that can inform public discourse.
Kenyan media can also hold the government and corporates accountable for their environmental promise and push for more ambitious and effective climate policies. This may involve investigative journalism, fact-checking, and providing a platform for voices that are often marginalised in the mainstream discourse
Media can further help to inspire and mobilise actions among the public, by producing engaging and informative content that showcases many ways in which communities can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
This can involve highlighting local initiatives, sharing practical tips for reducing carbon footprints and profiling inspiring stories of activism and advocacy. They can include articles, videos, podcasts and other multimedia formats.
However, for Kenyan journalists to cover climate change effectively, they would need better local data, access to experts in policy and science and funding to cover climate stories, raise awareness, stimulate debate and promote actions to address this critical global challenge that is at our doorstep
While the media industry can play an important role in the fight against climate change, it is also important for Kenyan media outlets to be aware of their own contributions to the problem and mitigate their impact.
This can involve adopting more sustainable practices in the way different media formats are produced, stored, transmitted/distributed and consumed, providing accurate and comprehensive coverage of climate issues and promoting values and behaviours that are in line with a more sustainable and equitable future.
The key to ensuring meaningful progress is to bring the entire media ecosystem together to ensure a coordinated communication strategy between science and policy on climate issues. This will in turn drive the kind of collective action and systemic change that is needed to address this global crisis where the stakes are high.
Chief Operating Officer, The Star Publications and chairperson, Media Owners Association
