Veteran journalists from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria recently gathered at the Second Biennial Media Forum on Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change, and Science in Kumasi. They all agreed that traditional environmental reporting needs a makeover.
Much of the existing coverage simply scratches the surface and fails to help communities facing real ecological challenges. Rosalia Omungo, the CEO of Kenya’s Editors Guild, emphasized the need to focus on real people’s stories. She urged reporters to show the struggles of individuals, clarify what’s at stake, and identify who needs to act. Her suggestion to “follow the money” behind environmental issues is particularly important. Complex data should be made relatable for the audience.
Michael Simire from Nigeria criticized the common practice of covering only disasters. He urged journalists to specialize further and grow their expertise in environmental matters. In Ghana, Kofi Adu Domfeh from JoyNews encouraged reporters to connect global climate discussions to local issues. Many people in Ghana are unaware that without adequate funding, the nation’s climate goals for 2030 are at risk. He highlighted how local actions, like tree planting, contribute to global efforts.
The discussions revealed pressing issues. Naana Nkansah Agyekum, a former Metro TV journalist, pointed out the need to combine data with personal narratives to stand against intimidation. She argued that stories focusing on community struggles for sustainability can gain international attention. Kingsley Hope from Ghanaian Times stressed the importance of incorporating local perspectives. He insisted that ecosystem restoration is critical for survival.
Participants proposed solutions when they noticed that political news often overshadowed environmental stories. One journalist suggested exposing the political angles within climate stories, reinforcing that climate issues are intertwined with development. Calls for specialized desks focusing on environmental coverage were also made.
The consensus was clear: impactful reporting requires in-depth investigations and a focus on ordinary people’s resilience. As Domfeh aptly put it, “The story that changes lives shows how a farmer adapts to erratic rains—not just the rainfall charts.”
Organized by MPEC, ASCIR, and The Steminist Foundation, the forum also included insights from Ghana’s EPA and Forestry Commission, showcasing the collaborative effort between journalists and environmental experts.
For further reading on the impact of climate change on local communities, check this NASA report.
