situation with Environmental journalism in Macedonia

1. ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts
Barriers that
environmental
journalists face
in Macedonia
By
Natasha Dokovska
Green accord
media Forum
November 2016,
Frosinone

2. Journalists have means to make
the world better and more
flexible and to make the living
environment better for everyone

3. Michael Frome, environment writ
er and advocate
Environmental writing reaches
deeper with beginning, middle, and
end integrally joined.
It thinks not simply of Who, What, W
hen, Where, Why and How, but of
species instead of an animal, a forest
instead of a tree.

4. …some data about journalists in
Macedonia
In the country with 2 million population we have 7
daily news paper, dozen TV station with national
consecions and more than 50 radio station, most of t
hem on local level.
Media diversity YES, but NO freedom of expression
Macedonia is a country where journalists are still in
prison, where the media are being shut and owners
arrested, intimidation and blackmail of journalists
They often face greater difficulties

5. A recent research by Journalists for Human
Rights in Macedonia found that journalists i
n Macedonia work under pressure and they
are afraid to do their job.
Related to environmental journalists, at the
moment we have only 3-5 journalists for w
hich we can say that are environmental jo
urnalists.
If in second half in the nineties of the last
century Macedonia was lead in environmen
tal journalism in region, today is on the last
place.

6. On TV there is no environmental
programme.
Only 2 radios stations once a
week have environmental
programme.
Only one daily newspaper
produces weekly environmental
review.

7. Environmental journalism
in Macedonia
In the period of 3 months was edited
Only 5 article concerning environment
•3 was on topic of climate change, one
about deforestation and one concerning
local topic on air pollution
•The mostly used word was adaptation
and mitigation

8. …But, don’t forget
Studies have shown that environmental
journalists start their carrier very early.
In Macedonia only young journalists, let’s
say beginners have a “chance” to be enviro
nmental journalists. (everyone else want to
cover politics)
They are less paid, not motivated and they
don’t receive chance to advance.

9. If in second half in the 19
90s of the last century
Macedonia was leading in
environmental journalism
in the region, today is on
the last place.

10. Obstacles environmental
journalists face
EJ face a lot of difficulties in access to the informati
on
They are not paid equally, as journalists that cover
other sectors.
They are facing higher risk of being sued (environm
ental legal aid doesn’t exist in MK).
The lack knowledge of the topic.
EJ have non chance to network, exchange idea and
knowledge with colleagues from the region.

11. Causes
Media privatisation
Chasing sensationalism
Controlled editorial policy (NGO’ as source
for stories)
Unqualified journalists
Not dignified, but popular profession

12. Solutions…
To mobilize as many young journalist
s to treat the environment
To educate
To educate the editors and owners of
media to seriously understand the en
vironmental topic

13. Frank Allen, Ex-Wall Street
Journal writer
“Environmental stories do
n’t break, they ooze.”

14. Thank you ))
www.jhrmk.org