Doing More Sustainable, Constructive Journalism On, And in Africa

The global media landscape is fraught with challenges but how do media houses and journalists take on not only the challenges of the industry but of our planet and livelihoods. One way is to look to sustainable journalism, but what does that mean?

"The concept of sustainable journalism emphasises the interconnectedness of various crises, highlighting the need for a form of journalism that confronts the sustainability issues confronting our society, including economic, ecological, and social challenges. In order for journalism to have a sustainable future as a profession and a business, it must address these challenges effectively," according to Lars Tallert, the founder and president of the Sustainable Journalism Partnership.

South Africa is one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to the impact of the climate emergency, according to Enoch Sithole, a journalism lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. However, Sithole observed that climate crisis receives inadequate media coverage and is typically only reported following conferences, events, or disasters.