Experts Urge Greater Support for Women Journalists in Environmental Reporting

Islamabad: Shakila Jalil 

As environmental crises escalate globally, female journalists in Pakistan are increasingly stepping into the forefront of climate reporting, yet they face formidable challenges. To address these issues and recognize their contributions, the Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation, in collaboration with the United States Department of State hosted the Sabz Journalism Conference in Islamabad. The event, held at Islamabad Hotel, aimed to spotlight the critical work of women in environmental journalism while tackling the gender-specific barriers they encounter.

Husnain Raza, Director of Programs at GNMI, opened the conference by emphasizing its objectives and significance. He highlighted the event’s crucial role in addressing the challenges and opportunities confronting female journalists in Pakistan’s environmental journalism landscape. Raza also delivered a multimedia presentation showcasing the progress of Sabz journalism initiatives aimed at empowering women journalists to report on environmental issues with greater depth and impact. The session featured compelling narratives from women journalists at the forefront of climate change reporting, emphasizing their contributions and the urgent need for more inclusive and gender-sensitive environmental journalism in the country.

Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Advisor for Climate Change at the Planning Commission of Pakistan, highlighted the pivotal role of women in environmental journalism, especially in the wake of the 2022 floods that caused losses estimated between $20-30 billion. “Women journalists are not only narrating the stories of climate change; they are shaping the very discourse that will define our future,” Sheikh remarked. He emphasized the necessity of fact-based reporting, highlighting how women journalists have historically brought untold stories to light, often in the face of systemic barriers. Sheikh called for amplifying the voices of women, particularly in areas where environmental degradation intersects with gender violence and urban population growth, issues that are frequently underreported but critical to understanding the full impact of climate change.

The panel discussion, titled “Nature Through the Lens of Gender: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Environmental Journalists,” brought together a distinguished group of experts toexplore the intersection of gender and environmental journalism.

Moderated by Senior Broadcast Journalist Urooj Raza Sayyami, the session highlighted the critical underrepresentation of environmental journalism in Pakistan’s media landscape and the gender disparities within the field.

Haroon Rashid, Managing Editor at The Independent Urdu, stressed the importance of prioritizing environmental issues, urging emerging journalists to focus on this area from the start of their careers. He emphasized that field reporting is crucial for accurate coverage, particularly for women journalists who often demonstrate greater commitment in this regard. Rashid called for mainstream media to give environmental issues the attention they deserve, aligning them with public discourse.

Samina Nazeer, Executive Director of PODA, and Nayyer Ali, Program Anchor , both accentuated the systemic barriers faced by women journalists, especially in rural areas. Ms. Nazeer recounted her struggles to break into field reporting and criticized the media’s skewed priorities that often marginalize women’s voices in favor of religious figures.

Hunain Ameen, Managing Editor at Yeni Şafak Urdu, reinforced the necessity of integrating capitalism, gender, and environmental concerns into every story, urging journalists to dig deeper into these critical issues.

Participants belonging to the reputable media houses of Islamabad including, Associate Press Pakistan (APP), Pakistan Television (PTV), Dawn News, Samaa TV, Hum News, Independent Urdu,GNN, 92 News, AIK News, Public TV, Yeni Safak Urdu as well as various print and digital media outlets, participated in the event.

Call for Inclusive Environmental Journalism

The conference concluded with a dynamic networking session, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists and experts. This session facilitated in-depth conversations about the potential for collaborative efforts between media and civil society organizations, focusing on strategies to amplify awareness and advocacy for environmental issues.

The conference concluded with a call for more inclusive and gender-sensitive environmental journalism, recognizing the critical role of women journalists in shaping the discourse on climate change.

Sabz Journalism Fellowship Program

The Sabz Journalism Fellowship Program aims to empower journalists with the necessary skills and knowledge to report effectively on environmental issues, promoting awareness and understanding among the public.