WHY MANY AFRICAN JOURNALISTS MISSED #COP28
The number of African science journalists who have missed #COP28UAE in Dubai is heartwrenching.
Many were accredited by the @UNFCCC but couldn't travel. For several reasons. If you have been to...🧵
...international conferences, you probably already know that few occasions highlight the #inequality in our world quite like these global events. And the COP takes the biscuit.
Firstly, the COP is like the Olympics or World Cup of the climate discourse. All big-league players are present.
At this #COP28 , the global media has a huge presence, complete with private studios and large crews. Few African media have half the size of crews.
Secondly, this limited representation means the Western media will, sadly, hog the climate narrative, again. The upshot is that African audiences are largely exluded. I say largely, not entirely.
Which explains why climate change, while felt in the worst possible ways...
...in #Africa, is still a mystery to the layperson on the continent. Dr Al Jaber alluded to "caves" last week and, clearly, many Africans are stuck in that era. An era of not knowing beans about the biggest threat to them and the planet today.
That Dubai is an outrageously expensive city hasn't helped the situation for African journalists either.
Rates for hotel had shot through the roof in the weeks preceding this summit. The cost of food and services is unthinkably high for many African travellers.
Is it possible to conjure up climate justice in the absence of equal coverage of climate events? Without representation of some populations in the world? This has nothing to do with Africa being the worst impacted continent. This is a social justice issue.
Credit to them, there are hundreds of journalists from Asian & Latin American media at this COP. Latin America is one of the frontlines of climate change. They are combating it by, first, keeping their audiences informed on the happenings here.
Admittedly, many African organisations sponsored journalists to COP. Some media houses did their best to send more than three reporters to the summit.
These have been Africa's voice in the "din" of international #COP28 coverage. Our journalists have done a neat job.
In some instances, journalists had to choose between taking airfare or accommodation from the sponsor. Not both. A colleague in the industry was lucky to secure full sponsorship. But without meals. Many gave up trying to look for support.
On a positive note, #ClimateReporting has become a big deal in many African newsrooms in the last five years. Journalists are leaving other desks to join the climate desk. There is drive to elevate climate #storytelling, no doubt. Except resources remain an acute drawback.
Three questions emerge:
1. Can coverage of an event of the significance and size of COP be fair & balanced when African media is underrepresented?
2. Is #ClimateJustice feasible with unequal coverage of climate events?
3. Would it be too ambitious to stretch #climatefinance to strengthen & level the climate reporting space?
Equal media coverage equals climate justice, and Africans have a right to tell their climate story. No one can tell it better.
Article 4 (i) of the UNFCCC supports eduction, training and public awareness related to climate change and wide participation in the process.
How can this education and awareness happen in the absence of African journalists?
While no one is directly to blame for this, there is a need for all to act with urgency to support African media. Otherwise the hegemony & historical #injustice of underrepresentation of Africans at important places will only become bigger and worse.
Fund Climate Journalism!
Without money coming through for climate journalism in Africa, reporters from the continent will always be accredited to cover COP and other events, but stay away for lack of facilitation.
Sweat, Tears & a Humble Pie
When you see them at this COP, treat journalists from Africa with kindness. For some, it has taken sweat, tears and a humble pie to get to Dubai.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.