In 2023, EJN embarked on a landmark research project to offer insights into the state of climate and environmental journalism around the world. We asked: What are the challenges journalists face in producing high-quality journalism, from mis/disinformation to diminished press freedom to the lack of resources? What strategies can journalists, newsrooms, and funding organizations employ to improve the media landscape?

The resulting report, "Covering the Planet: Assessing the State of Climate and Environmental Journalism Globally," features survey responses from 744 journalists in 102 countries and interviews with 74 journalists in 31 countries—the largest global study of its kind.

The report’s recommendations provide important food for thought for journalists, newsrooms and funding organizations everywhere. It offers evidence-based suggestions to enable journalists to do their jobs safely and identifies the training and tools they need to confront challenging global conditions and their own knowledge gaps.

Now, four months after the report’s launch, we want to continue the conversation with stakeholders in this field. In this fireside chat, we discuss the needs of climate and environmental journalists on the ground and explore how the report’s recommendations could be realized.

Speakers:

Dr. Gabi Mocatta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication at the University of Tasmania and Covering the Planet Lead Researcher

Amy Sim, Regional Program Manager for Asia-Pacific Environmental Programs, Internews

Rhett Butler, Founder and CEO of Mongabay

Paul Omorogbe, Features Editor and Environmental Journalist at the Nigerian Tribune

Moderator:

James Fahn, EJN’s Executive Director