$KARACHI: In association with with Green Media Initiatives and the Climate Action Center, a cohort of 25 female journalists was formed to focus on climate change reporting.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Green Media Initiatives is a non-governmental organization dedicated to training journalists on environmental and climate change issues. “It was my dream to provide a platform for female journalists to work on climate change, where their voices could become a powerful force reaching policymakers, ensuring that women have a central role in climate change prevention policies,” said Shabina Faraz, CEO of Green Media Initiatives, at the official launch of the Female Media Cohort for Climate Change.
The program commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran by senior journalist Arshi Abbas. The event was expertly hosted by Fahmida Yousufi, a renowned journalist, anchor, and analyst affiliated with Raava Digital.
Director of the Climate Action Center Yasir Hussain shared his thoughts on the occasion, noting that he has been working for environmental protection for three decades. In the early 90s, environmental news was scarce because it wasn’t considered a specialized beat; only one or two stories would get coverage.
He explained that during those times, they would send daily news in the form of a newsletter to international media via email, as it was challenging to disseminate news back then. Yasir Hussain also highlighted that Karachi despite being one of the largest cities in the world, our quality of life is ranked among the lowest. Pakistan stands at 169 out of 173 countries, with 67% of the population living in slums.
Regarding the Karachi Action Plan, he mentioned that they are striving to ensure their suggestions are given importance, which includes addressing issues like heatwaves, green city initiatives, solid waste management, and other environmental concerns.
Senior journalist Kamal Siddiqui praised the formation of the Female Cohort for Climate Change, calling it a welcome initiative. He noted those three decades ago, there was no environmental beat. In 1991, there were very few female reporters, and those who were present mostly covered fashion.
He highlighted that Pakistani issues are underreported and often not covered at all, including environmental issues and related changes. He emphasized that not every reporter can cover environmental news as it requires an understanding of the environment.
Kamal Siddiqui pointed out that environmental degradation in Pakistan affects women the most. Therefore, women should report on these issues as they can gather information more effectively. Along with newspapers, there is now a need for digital media, and more importantly, these news stories should be highlighted on social media. In conclusion, he stated that a journalist is not an activist; their job is to report issues, not to advocate. He welcomed the formation of the Female Cohort and mentioned that the presence of so many women at the event.
Farahnaz Zahidi Moazzam, the Pakistan editor of the international organization Dialogue Earth (formerly The Third Pole), emphasized the importance of investigative journalism. She stated that obtaining data or statistics is a significant challenge for investigative journalists in Pakistan. Clearly, without credible data, it is impossible to demonstrate the accuracy of the impacts of climate change.
She also mentioned that a good understanding of both science and technology is essential for better reporting on climate change. Moreover, more women should come forward, as they tend to view issues from a deeper and different perspective.
Senior journalist Lubna Jarrar Naqvi highlighted the importance of fieldwork safety for journalists. She advised that journalists should dress appropriately according to the local environment and always carry a health kit for health-related issues. Reports should not be event-based but should be continuous.
Munzzah Siddiqui, a senior journalist and renowned vlogger affiliated with Geo Digital, mentioned that she used to organize the environment page in Dawn newspaper back in 1990. She stressed the need for comprehensive investigative reporting on climate change. While event-based reporting is happening, there is a lack of thorough reporting on climate change with accurate data.
Dr. Yasmeen Farooqui, Dean of the School of Media Sciences at Ilma University, welcomed the formation of cohart, stating that having more women involved in reporting will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the environment. She also announced a workshop on digital media for female journalists.
Rafi-ul-Haque, an environmental expert, emphasized the importance of female reporters in environmental reporting and highlighted the need for accurate data. He provided numerous examples to illustrate the challenges Pakistan will face regarding climate change in the future, stressing that active media is essential to address these challenges, and this hope rests with the women of cohart.
Senior Editor Aamir Latif advocated for investigative reporting to thoroughly explore various issues. He mentioned that this platform is very special and it is up to the participants to decide whether to work in a conventional manner or highlight their work through special reporting.
Senior Editor Hassan Abbas remarked that climate is a vast topic that requires effort, data, and a unique angle for comprehensive coverage. As an editor, he finds it challenging to publish stories without data or references, highlighting a significant gap in current reporting.
Senior reporter Sohail Jamali, affiliated with PTV, also emphasized the importance of field reporting and shared his experiences. The event saw a large number of female journalists in attendance, who collectively committed to working together on climate change and environmental issues.