New initiative launches to protect climate journalists worldwide

Attacks against environmental journalists are at an all-time high and continue to worsen, according to a report by UNESCO. There are reports of intimidation, beatings, arrests and, in some cases, the murder of those telling climate stories.  

In partnership with the International Federation of Journalists, UNESCO surveyed 905 reporters from 129 countries. The report revealed that 70% of the respondents had been subject to attacks.

For years, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented attacks against climate reporters and provided safety advice. Now, the media watchdog is going a step further.

In September, CPJ announced a $1 million Climate Crisis Journalist Protection Initiative to help address this rise in violence.

“Journalists probe political corruption and the organized crime networks exploiting natural resources. They report on environmental devastation and the innovations and policies to stop it. Such reporting is becoming increasingly dangerous,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg during the launch.

This initiative will provide journalists with safety training and other forms of support.  Listed among its objectives are:  

• Further CPJ’s research to detect global hotspots and safety trends
• Map journalists’ needs and conduct preventative outreach
• Provide financial support, including mental health assistance and tailored safety workshops, via a dedicated emergency fund
• Help increase awareness of threats facing climate reporters

“This comes at a time when journalists are facing risks from reporting on the wider story of the environment, including organized crime links and political corruption, as well as protests against climate change globally,” noted Lucy Westcott, CPJ’s emergencies director. She pointed to the widespread misinformation and attacks on meteorologists during recent deadly hurricanes in the U.S.

“We hope to better understand these threats, and the ways we can best help journalists to mitigate them,” said Westcott.

According to UNESCO, the danger comes from many directions. State actors such as the police, the military, government officials and local authorities are the worst offenders. Industrial companies, criminal groups and protesters also target journalists.

The topics they cover put reporters in harm’s way, too. “Whether they are investigating deforestation in the Amazon, pollution in industrial regions or illegal mining in Africa, the remote nature of these assignments adds a significant layer of risk,” said the UNESCO report.  

CPJ’s safety advice

Safety resources can be found on this dedicated page, which includes links to physical and digital security information, such as how to prepare for arrest and detention, protecting confidential sources and best practices for protecting your psychosocial safety.

Here are some tips to keep end mind throughout your reporting process:

• Pre-assignment considerations: Figure out what legal rights media professionals have in the country you are reporting in. This includes researching what you can be arrested for, how other colleagues who were arrested were treated while in custody, and if you will have access to lawyers that speak your language. 
• On assignment: Avoid staying in the same place for long periods of time, especially in areas that are more sensitive. Remember that most law enforcement prefer to not be filmed. Do not carry items that have the potential to get you arrested, such as weapons or drugs. 
• Digital safety best practices: Make sure that you have access to resources that can better ensure the safety of your sources. Conduct digital risk assessments to help prepare you for any issues that may arise. The Rory Peck Trust provides a digital risk assessment template that guides journalists through the process of ensuring their devices are not a danger to themselves or their sources.

Other climate sources 

• CPJ also released a guide on how to approach reporting from natural disasters, including flooding, wildfires and extreme heat.
• The Society of Environmental Journalists’ Climate Change Resource Guide includes climate change sources, experts and potential story topics.  
• Solutions Journalism Network’s Climate Blueprint is a new resource that covers 14 topics, and includes best practices, case studies and tips for climate journalists anywhere in the world. 
• The Global Investigative Journalism Network: Articles that provide suggestions for investigative projects, links to useful resources, and offer insight into how the media has handled climate change and what it should be doing better.

Journalists can contact CPJ at emergencies@cpj.org.

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