The Changing Landscape of Environmental Journalism: A Commentary
Journalism is at a pivotal moment, facing a significant transformation as traditional media platforms decline in popularity, while social media, video, and online platforms gain prominence. This shift occurs against a backdrop of shrinking press freedoms globally and an escalating climate crisis, which young journalists now experience firsthand, unlike their predecessors. To navigate these challenges and restore public trust in news media, we must invest in specialized training programs for local reporters, focusing on new storytelling techniques and tools to cover systemic crises in the Global South.
This commentary is part of Our Letters to the Future, a series produced by the Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellows as their final fellowship project. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Mongabay.
In this series, the sixth cohort of Mongabay's Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellows share their perspectives on environmental journalism, conservation, and the future for their generation, amidst multiple planetary crises. Each commentary is a personal reflection, drawing from individual fellows' experiences in their home communities and insights gained through the fellowship's six-month duration. The series spans the Global South, including Malaysia, India, Colombia, Brazil, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, showcasing a diverse range of ideas and shared experiences among these young environmental journalists as they embark on their careers.
The English poet Thomas Gray famously wrote, 'Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.' While this quote isn't specifically about journalists or the Earth's future, I believe ignorance is the enemy of journalism, far from blissful. It's what we strive to expose. Perhaps ignorance is an ally of politics and a bliss for capitalists.
As I write this, Delhi struggles to breathe, one of the world's most polluted cities in the world's most populous nation, mirroring our collective neglect. This is just one example of global environmental crises. Yet, the question I'm often asked is not 'What will you do about it?' but 'Why do you care?'
I join the environmental journalism field with the idealism that many young people share, aiming to make a difference and document Earth's history through storytelling. However, the landscape has shifted significantly from 20 years ago when most editors shared this idealism. The 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report revealed declining engagement with traditional media and rising dependence on social media, video, and online platforms, particularly in Global South countries.
As news consumption preferences change dramatically, media ownership in South Asian countries like India is concentrated among a few wealthy tycoons, often uncritical of the government. Journalist P. Sainath, whose work inspires me, stated in a 2023 interview, 'One of the most serious losses to journalism is that it has turned into a carnival-yelling by anchors. We have forgotten how to tell a story. Storytelling is at the heart of journalism.'
AI chatbots are now being used as a source of news by a significant portion of people under 35 worldwide, citing complexity as a barrier to understanding news. Despite the noble nature of reporting, public trust in journalism is eroding, with more people relying on social media personalities and influencers over traditional methods. It's time to reinvent journalism.
In June 2024, during a reporting day in Bengaluru, my colleagues and I were shocked to learn that the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, a prominent institute, had closed. This was particularly impactful for those of us just starting our careers, covering issues like urban flooding, traffic, air pollution, water contamination, and public policy gaps for modest pay in overstretched newsrooms. It symbolized the fragility of journalism in a country that desperately needs it.
Conversations with senior journalists revealed a concerning trend: many regional-language dailies and local news outlets lack designated climate or environment beat reporters, with health reporters covering related issues instead. This leads to the omission of crucial stories, as reporters juggle routine news from multiple beats, leaving little time for in-depth scientific studies. Climate change is no longer a distant hazard but a lived reality, making it our collective responsibility.
To revive newsrooms, we need larger teams and more reporters focused on specific beats, working both individually and collaboratively across beats. Every story may be an environmental story. Funding and grants are essential, as excessive commercial dependence may compromise work ethics and the nobility of reporting.
After two years of reporting on local issues in a conventional newsroom and participating in the Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship with Mongabay, I've gained deeper insights into storytelling. I now understand that events in my immediate surroundings are often linked to larger systemic challenges in the Global South. More collaborations between newsrooms are needed, allowing reporters to think and report beyond national borders.
To rebuild public trust in news media, we must provide local reporters with training tailored to new storytelling techniques. Initiatives to train journalists in AI-assisted reporting, audio, and visual tools can be transformative, especially in the Global South. With journalism institutes closing and admissions declining, these programs are crucial for shaping the next generation of reporters and the future of journalism itself.
Banner Image: Volunteers clean up plastic and other waste materials on a beach on the Arabian Sea coast on World Environment Day in Mumbai. Environmental crises are lived experiences for young generations, including journalists. Image by AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File.
