Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change has become a focal point in scientific research, especially following the warmest recorded decade (2010-2020), heightening concerns over the impact of industrialisation on the climate. Despite warnings from global organisations and the signing of over 500 international climate agreements, the effects of climate change continue to accelerate, largely due to a lack of political will to implement policies. In this context, effective environmental communication is crucial, and integrating environmental journalism and climate change communication into academic curricula can play a significant role in advocacy and public awareness through journalism and the media.This study examines journalism curricula in Australia, Fiji, and Pakistan, advocating for the integration of environmental journalism training to enhance climate change communication and action through digital media. The study uses Participatory Action Research (PAR) to examine environmental journalism at three levels that include content analysis of journalism curricula with a focus on environmental journalism offerings in 19 universities within Australia, Pakistan, and Fiji; semi-structured interviews with 18 academics from the three countries; and three focus groups made up of academics, journalists, and environmental activists. The Findings further answer the following questions: Is environmental journalism part of the curriculum in journalism schools in the countries under study? Can teaching environmental journalism be an effective method for communicating the issues of climate change? Can the use of digital media and solutions journalism empower climate action and drive change?
The research findings show that environmental journalism training remains largely absent from the current curricula of the universities studied in all three countries, limiting the ability of aspiring journalists to report on pressing climate issues. This research therefore recommends the integration of environmental reporting into journalism programs to enable knowledge sharing, create an understanding of how to care for the environment, and raise awareness for an impactful change at the grassroots level.
A comprehensive and inclusive curriculum is particularly essential in Australia, which has the resources and capacity to lead while focusing on incorporating Indigenous ecological knowledge to understand Mother Earth. Such an initiative can deepen environmental storytelling, enable such narratives to portray important environmental issues in the media, and promote climate justice. Similarly, environmental journalism curricula in Fiji and Pakistan must acknowledge cultural practices and religious teachings on caring for the environment.
Given the growing influence and impact of digital media, a revised framework for teaching environmental journalism, focusing on constructive news and solutions journalism strategies, is warranted. This framework must combine sustainability-focused news values with digital skills to equip prospective journalists with the expertise to navigate contemporary media landscapes for impactful reporting. This work also calls for a re-evaluation of journalism programs, challenging some of the outdated philosophical frameworks that may no longer align with the changing media landscape and the dire need to save the environment through journalism and by educating the broader population.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Asha Chand (Supervisor) & Myra Gurney (Supervisor) |