Expert Laments Under-reporting Of Environmental Issues

A pro-environment journalist, Mr Aliu Akoshile has described the level of under-reporting of environmental issues by practicing journalists in Nigeria as alarming and disheartening, calling on journalists to raise environmental issues as it concerns climate change and degradation of the environment.

Akoshile, who disclosed this yesterday in Obajana at a two-day environmental journalism workshop organized by Dangote Group with the theme” reporting the environment for sustainability” described journalists as educators who should consistently inform the people about their environment and not neglect it for others.

Akoshile noted that all journalists should be an activist in environmental reporting, adding much attention by practitioners has been placed on other areas which has not added value to the journalism profession.

He stressed that climate change is a shift in journalism adding that the International Press Instituted had once lamented on the under-reporting of the environment by Journalists across the globe.

The environmental expert lamented that the commitment of journalists to the environment is limited, hence the need to drive an effective coverage of the environment.

He said journalists must bridge the gap between expert and community adding that, journalists should look beyond just reporting the environment.

Akoshile said “You are the link between the environment and the people. Too much emphasis has been placed on politics, sports, entertainment and many more. It is just a few journalists that are reporting our environment. This is very worrisome.

“Neglecting our environment as journalists is detrimental to us as a nation. We must join hands together to secure our environment. This can be done by giving in-depth coverage of what is happening in our environment.

He frowned that citizens’ journalism remains the easiest way to promote fake news, hence the need for journalists to remain focused while discharging their duties.

“My own solution to citizens’ journalism is that there must be a way to do gate keeping. It is a major problem we are facing today in the media. It is affecting our revenue and affecting our integrity. We must join hands to protect the profession.”