The United States Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Julie McKay, on Friday urged Nigerian journalists on environmental stories, adding that there are many yet untold climate change-related happenings.
McKay made this disclosure during a virtual panel discussion organised in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and the United Nations Information Centre monitored by our correspondent in Gombe.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the theme of this year’s event is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis.”
She disclosed that many Nigerians awaited accurate information from journalists, stressing that her organisation has empowered hundreds for improved reporting.
She said, “The role of independent press is more important than ever, what you do matters; for years US embassy has sponsored trainings for hundreds of Nigerian journalists, in fact checking, investigative journalism and media ethics and has helped in topics including health, elections and environment. The ongoing climate change is perhaps the biggest new story of our time and threat to modern humans have ever faced.”
While urging for renewed efforts McKay added, “There are many environmental stories to be told in Nigeria, I hope this training will help you tell the stories for the benefit of your country and millions of Nigerian citizens who rely on you for accurate reporting.”
On his part, UNESCO Representative in Nigeria Abdourahamane Diallo, said his organisation has realised that journalism has key role to play in mitigating the existential crisis, adding that it can’t be underestimated especially in Nigeria.
Diallo noted that globally over 70 per cent of environmental reporters have been attacked, While about 44 per cent were killed in 15 years.
“70 per cent of environmental reporters have been the victim of attacks, threats, and 44 per cent of environmental journalists have been killed in the last 15 years,” he added.
Our correspondent reports that Dr Joseph Onoja, Director General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation; Babatunde Akintunde, Program Director, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development; Ayoola Kassim, Environment Journalist/Head of Programs, Channels TV were part of the panelists.
