Africa suffers disproportionately from climate change, with severe consequences like drought, famine and unprecedented flooding threatening over a third of its population. Environmental degradation, fuelled by extractive activities, devastates rural communities and irreversibly damages ecosystems and agriculture. Despite these severe challenges, African journalists are dedicated to conveying the impact of these climate-induced crises through their storytelling efforts.
Omar Faruk Osman, President of FAJ, states, "Journalism mirrors the society's current challenges and future possibilities, especially concerning environmental issues. This World Press Freedom Day, we must redouble our collective efforts to support and protect journalists, enabling them to continue their critical work in fostering a more informed and responsible world.
Across Africa, journalists contend with poor working conditions characterized by poverty wages, job insecurity, long and unpredictable hours and insufficient access to resources and financial support. These conditions severely hinder their ability to gather, process and disseminate information effectively. Many media outlets also lack necessary technological and logistical support, leaving journalists without crucial tools such as reliable internet, transportation and protective equipment. These limitations reduce the quality of reporting and restrict the depth and breadth of investigative journalism, undermining the media’s crucial role in informing the public and holding powers accountable, particularly in areas like governance and environmental conservation.
In addition to professional challenges, journalists in Africa face external threats that further compromise their safety and efficacy. These threats, which range from intimidation and harassment to physical violence, kidnapping and even assassination, are particularly prevalent in conflict zones or areas rife with illegal mining and logging. Such regions often experience media blackouts, imposed by those intent on concealing environmental degradation—a critical issue that committed journalists strive to expose.
"Today, as we celebrate the resilience and dedication of journalists across Africa, we must also confront the harsh realities they face—low pay, long hours, threats and dangerous attacks, particularly in environmental reporting. This untenable situation must change if journalists are to continue as key forces for environmental justice. We urgently need to enhance their working conditions, striving toward a future where journalists are both safe and supported in their essential roles," adds the FAJ President.
Internally, African journalists deal with toxic workplace environments, including bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. These conditions stifle free expression and lead to significant mental health challenges, complicating their professional responsibilities and impacting personal well-being. The convergence of these internal adversities with external dangers restricts journalistic freedom, limits public access to crucial information and hampers the ability to alert communities about looming environmental disasters. This exacerbates the vulnerability of populations already at risk from climate impacts and severely diminishes the role of journalism in fostering informed, engaged communities.
In response, FAJ is calling for concerted actions to foster a safer, more supportive and capable journalistic community. These efforts are designed to enable journalists in Africa to effectively inform the public, hold powers accountable and contribute meaningfully to discussions on sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Supporting the work of its affiliated unions and associations, FAJ advocates for significantly improved working conditions for journalists. The federation urges media outlets to ensure fair compensation and job security to mitigate poverty wages and job instability. Additionally, it calls for increased investment in technological and logistical support, such as reliable internet, transportation and essential protective equipment, to enable journalists to perform their duties effectively. Concurrently, FAJ emphasizes the importance of mental health support and anti-harassment initiatives within media organizations to combat workplace bullying, discrimination and harassment, ensuring a safer and more productive environment for all media professionals.
FAJ also campaigns for stringent safety protocols for journalists working in conflict zones, lawless areas, or regions plagued by illegal activities. This includes specialized security training and necessary protective measures to shield journalists from targeted violence and other threats. FAJ also emphasizes the need for legal protections to end the persecution of journalists for their work and calls on governments and international organizations to address and eliminate impunity for crimes against journalists, ensuring prompt and fair responses.
Regarding environmental and climate change reporting, FAJ proposes continuous capacity-building initiatives supported by significant funding from governments, the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities and international partners. These initiatives will be able to enhance journalists' skills and knowledge, equipping them to effectively tackle complex environmental issues.
Furthermore, FAJ underscores the necessity for transparency in the management of climate finance funds by African governments. It calls for regular public disclosures to ensure that these funds are being utilized effectively to combat environmental challenges, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the use of these critical resources.