ASHENEWS reports that the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has urged journalists in Africa to expose the exploitation of the environment by firms and other organisations in the region.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Manager, Press Freedom at AMDF, Zhiroh Jatau to commemorate the 2024 Press Freedom Day.
The foundation said that in line with this years theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of Environmental Crisis,” journalists must intensify efforts at exposing the negative impacts of the exploitation of nature and pollution of the environment by companies and other private entities.
“The 2024 Press Freedom theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of Environmental Crisis” seeks to draw attention to the importance of the planet earth and the need for journalists to promote safe environment.
“As such, the need to create a clean and green society for the future should be paramount. This begs for intensive investigation and exposure of companies and entities that are involved in negative exploitation of resources and polluting the earth.”
The foundation aid that the media must stand on its agenda-setting role and push for the protection of the environment due to the tripple planetary crisis that impacts human lives, namely Climate change, Pollution, and Biodiversity loss.
Stressing the role of freedom of the press as imperative for the society to thrive the foundation said “Countries like Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Cape Verde have provisions in their constitutions that reflects role, or protection for the press, but these legal safeguards do not always translate to full press freedom in practice.
“Reports show that at the beginning of 2024 there were about 70 journalists incarcerated in various countries of Africa. Most of them in cases related to investigative stories on corruption. This shows how vulnerable the African journalists are.”
The foundation decried increasing attack on the press in countries like Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Mali, where journalists are detained, and media houses invaded because of their work.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, the Press should be provided a conducive atmosphere to play its role in governance and development.
“AMDF therefore calls on African authorities to take more steps towards protecting journalists and provide them the needed space to operate.”
