(Photo for representational purpose only | Image by PDPics from Pixabay)
Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | May 2
“As a journalist who has lost colleagues in the line of duty, I cannot stress enough on the importance of World Press Freedom Day”, asserted Yirmiyan Arthur, Asia-Pacific Deputy News Director for Photography & Storytelling of The Associated Press. “Entire crews of journalists continue to be resettled in new and foreign countries because living in their country of origin is no longer safe,” she highlighted.
Speaking with The Morung Express on the eve of World Press Freedom Day that is observed on May 3 every year, she pointed out that journalists are in exile because they chose to report the truth. In this connection, she underscored that, “the call for press freedom is more urgent today than ever.”
With regard to this year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day, ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis’, she said, “It may surprise some that environmental journalism is one of the most dangerous fields of journalism.” The reason why journalists face severe threats while reporting on climate issues, she explained is “because the stripping of our natural resources is directly linked to human greed.”
Further elucidating on this, she related that, “we have all heard of the coal mafia, sand mafia, water mafia, timber mafia, you name it and there is a group desperately and fiercely trying to protect their interests.” Highlighting that “stories do the rounds on how those who oppose end up losing their lives, in gruesomely graphic details,” she also emphasised that, “these stories are not too far from our own homes.”
‘Support journalists reporting on environmental issues’
As indigenous people with our everyday lives intricately linked to our land and our forests, Yirmiyan Arthur also strongly advocated that, “we must actively support journalists reporting on environmental issues.”
While the general feeling may be that only the voice of those who have the power to make policies make a difference, she said, everyone can make it matter by engaging, reading, or responding actively to climate reporting. In this regard, she also offered suggestions such as writing supportive letters to editors and letting media houses know that reporting on the environment matters; by giving out media fellowships on climate reporting or by being citizen journalists.
She further highlighted that The Associated Press, which is the world’s oldest and largest news agency, which is also the organisation she works with, “produces more than 100 climate stories a month, that range from extreme weather and impact to green energy transitions.”
“The theme of climate intersects with many aspects of life and often impacts the most vulnerable, from developing nations that contribute the least to climate change,” she put across.
Further expressing that, “we are ourselves the only defenders and keepers of our land— what grows on it and what lies underneath,” she underlined, “how better to equip ourselves for the future than being more aware of what the stakes are!”
‘No dearth of scams in the extraction of resources’
With the crisis of environment impacting the lives of people across the globe, the role of journalists in this context has become even more crucial even as Conservationist & Veteran Journalist, Bano Haralu articulated that, “one very important role of journalists and journalism is highlighting the intersection of gender and climate change.”
Maintaining that there is no dearth of scams that can be unearthed in the extraction of resources from the mountains to the sea, Haralu emphasised that, “as journalists tell these stories at local levels with 'glocal' content, they empower the rights of individuals to make informed choices and thereby contribute to strengthening democracy.”
She further asserted that, “correct messaging is crucial when engaging with the subject of environment.” In the context of Nagaland, she felt that, “research and science based approach of traditional practices can go a long way to assist communities make informed choices with regard to the land, water and soil management.” “Likewise, only a collective consciousness can reverse this,” she said.
Pointing out that, “we all are, 'a part' of this globe, and not apart,” she also advocated the need for “conversations around conservation that empowers and is a subject in our families, public spaces, churches, schools and offices.” The media, she said is the best to go to town with this.
In the meantime, she was of the opinion that there is nothing more political than the issue of land and its resources and in this regard, stated concern that the challenge lies in how best this is communicated.
‘Media professionals can push activism’
While Nagaland does not have journalists specializing in a particular subject, such as health journalists or environment journalists, Alice Yhoshü, President of Kohima Press Club, who also writes for the national newspaper, Hindustan Times, advocated that, “as media professionals, we can push activism on different crucial topics by spreading awareness and dispelling false information.”
“Misinformation, for example, on environment issues, can lead to doubts and disinterest on the subject, the impact and urgency, and undermine efforts to address them,” she elaborated. Further pointing to the relevance of this year’s World Press Freedom Day being dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of global environmental crisis, she remarked that “it will be both challenging and rewarding to take it forward.”
Citing personal experience, Yhoshü related that, “it is sometimes difficult to cover in-depth environmental issues especially on deforestation and extractive activities.” Owing this to the unique pattern of land ownership where land belongs to the people, she further expounded that the people “often decide what to do in their land without caring much about the damage their actions are causing to biodiversity (often flouting government rules and guidelines).”
However, with the World Press Freedom Day this year being dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the face of environmental crisis, she urged on reflecting on “the responsibility and duty that we all have towards society.”
“Let us also uphold the safety and freedom of journalists covering environment issues so as to ensure that the public gets verified information they need to effect action and policy changes on matters that directly affect them,” she put across.
