Journalists in the country have been advised to scale up their reportage of issues affecting the environment and its sustainability.
Mr Aliu Akoshile, Editor -In- Chief of NatureNews gave the advise while speaking at a two-day training workshop organised for journalists by Dangote Group in partnership with Climate Africa Media Initiative Centre (CAMIC)
The workshop which was held at Dangote Academy, Obajana, Kogi State from July 17-18 was attended by journalists from Kogi, Kwara, Benue States and the Federal Capital Territory.
Akoshile expressed concern over the low coverage of environment by media houses in the country, saying this should not be allowed to continue
The theme of the training workshop was ” Reporting the Environment for Sustainability ”
He said the human existence and daily activities revolve around the environment, adding that it was the responsibility of journalists to adequately inform and educate the people about issues around the environment.
“Environment has placed responsibility on us as journalists. Our professional calling imposes on us responsibility of informing the public.
“There is therefore need for us to incorporate environment into everything we do” Akoshile, who is also the Executive Director of CAMIC said.
The veteran journalist said the low reportage of issues concerning environment by journalists has become a global concern, calling on media houses to pay more attention to the sector.
He mentioned the issue of climate change which has brought about a change in weather condition globally, including Nigeria
Journalists, he said should do more reports on implications of climate change for the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
“You are the link between the environment and the people.
“Neglecting our environment as journalists is detrimental to us as a nation.
“We must join hands together, to secure our environment.
“This can be done by giving in-depth coverage of what is happening in our environment.
“Our survival is dependent on the well-being of the environment.
“The environment has been there before us and we need it more than it needs us, therefore, we must protect it from harm for our own good as humans,” Akoshile explained.
Akoshile said the training workshop was organised to ginger the interest of journalists in environment and report back their fundings to the people in a simple language for them to understand what is going on around them.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
