EJN Staff Share 21 Priorities to Strengthen Climate and Environmental Journalism in 2025 and Beyond
Since launching in 2004, EJN has been committed to improving the quality and quantity of local environmental and climate journalism globally. To celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2024, we reflected on what we’ve achieved during these past two decades—highlighting key milestones, sharing memorable moments, and showcasing some of the impacts from EJN-supported stories, workshops and reporting trips.
As we conclude our year-long anniversary campaign, we turn our focus to the future, drawing on 20 years of experience from EJN and Internews staff to identify what is needed to strengthen climate and environmental journalism in 2025 and beyond.
From fostering collaborative journalism projects and investing in impact measurement to equipping journalists to combat misinformation and use AI ethically, our team of experts share their perspectives on where journalists should focus their efforts, how newsrooms and funders can better address today’s challenges and what resources are essential to support impactful reporting.
More accountability journalism post-COPs
Greater support for exiled journalists and media
“Climate journalism is becoming increasingly politicized, with state and non-state actors often adopting a hostile approach toward independent journalists reporting on climate issues. This is particularly the case in parts of Southeast Asia and Latin America, where environmental protection and economic development issues clash and intersect. In response, media and journalism actors are often forced into exile, with informal networks of reporters remaining in-country providing on-the-ground access to information that can be published safely from abroad.
Exiled media outlets provide crucial information to audiences in repressive environments and play a vital role in countering regime narratives and disinformation. They hold governments accountable, expose human rights violations and uncover corruption, often highlighting issues that local journalists and outlets may not be willing to cover. However, they operate at great risk and face many challenges including sanctions, visa restrictions, and efforts by regimes to suppress their content, as documented in Internews’ 2024 report ‘Flight and Fight’. Running exiled media is also costly and resource-intensive, which is why a more coherent and ambitious strategy to support these outlets and provide safe refuge for journalists working under threat is needed.”
—Dr. Isabelle Schläpfer, Research Manager at Internews
Increased coverage of resilience and adaptation
Going beyond mainstream media: Engaging alternative information producers
“In this digital era, environmental journalism must prioritize adapting to keep audiences informed and engaged. That’s why EJN is piloting an initiative called Earth Shorts to strengthen the quality of environmental information on social media platforms by improving the skills, knowledge and resources of content creators posting on these platforms. This effort is crucial for reaching wider audiences, combating disinformation and increasing the visibility of accurate, high-quality information.
This past year we worked with eight social media content creators in the Philippines to increase their knowledge of climate change and improve their access to credible environmental data as they create short-form video content. We aim to scale this initiative up in the coming years and continue collaborating with social media content creators and journalists—key players in today’s information landscape—to advance environmental journalism.”
—Imelda Abaño, EJN's Philippines Program Manager
Making opportunities more accessible to all journalists in the Global South
"In 2022, the flooding that devastated Pakistan led to a renewed push for loss and damage financing at COP27, the climate summit that followed months later and culminated in the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund. Media coverage of the floods–informed by lived experience and calls for climate justice—was key to shaping the global narrative and catalyzing action.
Researchers point to this increased power of Global South narratives when describing coverage of the recent drought in Africa, rising sea levels in Southeast Asia, extreme heat in the Middle East and melting Himalayan glaciers, to name just a few examples. Earlier this year, EJN’s landmark study, “Covering the Planet”, also found that climate and environmental journalism in low- and middle-income countries is “increasing, vibrant and locally nuanced”, echoing studies that posited emerging economies as emerging “news makers”, not just “news takers” reflecting “Northern” discourse on climate change.
The growing impact of narratives rooted in place and more nuanced, representative environmental coverage is heartening. It informs and empowers the communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, centering their perspectives in media outlets they trust and in languages they are most fluent in. And importantly, it has the potential to advance climate initiatives.
But this progress can too easily be stymied by the very real resource constraints faced by journalists in the Global South, particularly—if we take a more granular view of geographical diversity—in its Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and remote rural areas that find themselves on the frontlines of climate change and biodiversity loss. (In 2022, for instance, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were among the hardest hit by the floods.)
To foster truly equitable environmental and climate coverage in the years ahead, produced consistently and not just in response to extreme weather events, donors and journalism support organizations should seek to engage journalists from these doubly under-resourced regions—often, reporters with little capacity to submit grant applications or participate in fellowships and workshops, from local presses with limited, but still crucial, reach.
At EJN, we’ve made some strides in this regard: offering journalists with patchy internet access communications stipends to join virtual trainings; inviting applications from community-based media outlets as well as national papers of record; translating reporters’ resources in different languages; and producing short courses delivered via WhatsApp. But there’s much more to be done."
—Amrita Gupta, Senior Editor & Content Officer at EJN
Increasing philanthropic support for environmental journalism
“Philanthropy plays a crucial role in society by supporting the fight against some of the most pressing issues we face, including the environmental and climate crises. Environmental journalists are central to this effort, as they not only spotlight the threats of climate change but also present and assess solutions. However, journalists and media organizations face significant challenges, including limited capacity, resources, training, safety and financial sustainability. Philanthropy can help address these challenges, improving the quality and quantity of environmental information globally.
In an age of misinformation, philanthropic support for climate and environmental journalism is essential for driving meaningful climate action. While interest in supporting information solutions and quality journalism has grown, we need more philanthropy to turn that interest into actual funding. Flexible funding is particularly crucial to reduce administrative burdens, improve cohesion and efficiency, leverage project funding and enable us to be agile and responsive to emerging needs.”
—Ben Jenkins, Private Sector Development Specialist at Internews
More collaborative cross-border reporting
Strengthening impact measurement for environmental journalism
“Robust monitoring and evaluation of climate and environmental journalism is essential to demonstrate to the international community that this field is a vital prong in the strategy to combat climate change and build resilience. At EJN, we have a long track record of capturing the impact of our work and can provide evidence that stories we have supported have led to significant local actions that address or mitigate climate challenges.
To consistently and systematically demonstrate impact across the sector, several key questions must be addressed: Who is the target audience for a given piece of reporting? How can we ensure this information reaches them? And how can we increase the likelihood that they take informed action based on it? These questions are not solely for environmental journalists, who see themselves as producers of accurate information, but as part of their efforts, they should consider their intended audience and identify stakeholders who can amplify their stories to key decision-makers. Donors and intermediaries also play a crucial role in ensuring these stories reach, are made salient, and, ultimately, acted on by the right people.
By engaging a broader network of stakeholders, the influence of environmental journalism can grow, making initiatives more impactful and impact measurement more straightforward. Without a stronger focus on capturing and demonstrating the sector’s impacts, the amazing work of local journalists and content creators may become increasingly rare, furthering exacerbating climate impacts.”
—Ruben Grangaard, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at Internews
Better and more credible coverage to counter misinformation
“In a world of multidimensional crises, including the climate crisis that threatens livelihoods and ecosystems, misinformation has become part of the journalistic landscape.
From my experience at EJN—training and supervising the production of climate research, most recently an in-depth study on climate journalism in the MENA region—I have learned that misinformation and disinformation arise not only from a lack of knowledge and understanding of the science, but also from official entities and non-governmental actors. Another contributing factor is the failure of governments, institutions and media outlets to address or counteract climate misinformation. Social media platforms further exacerbate the issue, serving as major gateways for the dissemination of unreliable information.
In the years ahead, independent, professional media must do more to combat climate misinformation, as should social platforms—given that a large audience relies on them for information—but the first step is equipping environmental journalists with the necessary climate knowledge and skills to critically evaluate information. Newsrooms and media support organizations should help journalists distinguish between climate and environmental concepts and connect global warming to its local and regional impacts.
Since journalism has a significant impact on public opinion, it is essential to establish trusted information ecosystems. Building a reliable infrastructure of climate knowledge through research and training is crucially important.”
—Khaled Sulaiman, Environmental Journalism Advisor at EJN
Ethical and effective use of AI in journalism
More robust data journalism training
“The biggest lesson we have learned is that it takes passion, courage, and rigor to derive meaningful insights from data to cut through the noise surrounding the climate crisis and potentially influence policy.
What excites me is equipping passionate environmental reporters with the processes and skillsets needed to produce stories that expose and document the scale and hidden causes of the climate crisis, while prioritizing the quantification of its impact on vulnerable communities—creating work that is both ambitious and accessible to the public.
EJN and Thibi’s Environmental Data Journalism Academy provides a structure and support system for journalists to ensure they have the skills, support, and expertise needed for careers in data-driven accountability reporting: that is, the vision to uncover patterns hidden in data, apply stringent standards to analysis, and transform dense findings into engaging work."
—Eva Constantaras, Data Journalism Advisor at EJN
Better coordination among journalism intermediaries
“When EJN started up 20 years ago, many media outlets—especially the most successful—tended to keep journalism support organizations at arm’s length. It was generally considered okay to allow their journalists to join training workshops and conferences, but some feared that accepting money for content could threaten their independence or leave them open to charges of bias.
As the financial crisis facing news media worsened, media outlets have become more open to working with journalism support organizations, including EJN, and philanthropic donors have become more aware of the need to support journalism. As a result, “intermediary” groups, as we’re sometimes called—because we serve as a conduit between media outlets and funders—have increased in number and scope. Of course, some philanthropic donors choose to directly finance media organizations, but there are good reasons why these support groups, often staffed by (former) journalists, have flourished.
"For media outlets—besides the obvious benefit of getting financing, technical training, professional development opportunities for their staff, and support for more high-quality stories—intermediaries can serve as a firewall to prevent interference by advocacy-oriented funders, and help them tap into financing that they’d otherwise find difficult if not impossible to tap, for instance from bilateral aid agencies. For donors, intermediaries not only have the detailed technical expertise and contacts to work effectively with media, but can carry out the smaller-scale grant-making and engagement that they find challenging, and can also help carry out tasks—like monitoring and evaluating the impacts of this work—that media outlets themselves may be loath to do.
The proliferation of intermediaries does make it more likely that we might compete for funding. But we’re also helping to grow the field of climate and environmental media support, within which there is rich collaboration. EJN has worked hard to partner with our colleague organizations, whether it’s through funding numerous non-profit news agencies, websites and networks; working together on collaborative story projects; holding joint trainings, fellowships, side events and panels; serving as judges or funders for journalism award programs; or collaborating on key activities like research, monitoring and evaluation, or ensuring the safety of the journalists with whom we work.
Increasing restrictions and crackdowns on environmental media mean these collaborations often have to remain hidden from public view. In just the last year, for instance, we’ve worked with one partner organization on an investigation into wildlife trafficking whose author had to remain anonymous; a couple of others to protect a journalist whose impactful story had led to her being threatened by a logging company; and yet another to help a colleague facing political persecution by her government.
All of the feedback we get from both our members and our donors suggest they want this support and collaboration to increase. As the geopolitical environment becomes more challenging, this may become more vital than ever.”
—James Fahn, EJN’s Executive Director
Increased coverage of One Health issues
Check out EJN’s One Health Experts Database
Greater emphasis on solutions-focused reporting
“Climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution and marine plastic pollution—these are urgent global issues that are complex and can feel daunting to individuals. Many information consumers feel helpless about the situation and even avoid environmental news altogether. It is therefore crucial that journalists and content creators break down these issues, untangle them and develop stories that resonate with their audiences.
While investigating and reporting on the devastating impacts of environmental degradation and exposing GHG-emitting practices is important, it is no longer enough. Climate and environmental journalism must also offer inspiration and solutions to local communities—showing how those affected by rising sea levels or dwindling fish stocks are taking action and explaining how collective grassroots efforts can drive positive change.”
—Amy Sim, Regional Program Manager for EJN’s Asia-Pacific Environmental Programs
Long-term investment in environmental journalism
“Traditionally, the support we offer journalists is limited by timescales, reporting themes or budget constraints. However, long-term programs like EJN's Reporting Fellowship enable under-resourced journalists to pursue investigative, time-intensive stories at their own pace and with greater ambition. With this support, EJN Reporting Fellows have been able to deepen their expertise and improve their skillsets across four thematic tracks—climate, biodiversity, the ocean and One Health—enhance their reporting and gain valuable experience covering international conferences. Investing in journalists through longer-term and more diverse programs helps foster future leaders in the field—journalists who will continue reporting on these critical issues for years to come.”
—Charlie Debenham, Senior Program Officer at EJN
More Indigenous-led environmental journalism
“If you think of the scientific method as a series of repeated experiments with data gathered over time, Indigenous communities have been gathering and testing knowledge for many millennia. Their traditional knowledge is substantial, robust and multifaceted, developed with precision and respect for the natural world because their survival depends on it. With that in mind, it is not only important but inevitable that Indigenous perspectives are included in discussions about climate and environmental issues. And who better to elevate those voices than Indigenous journalists who understand the nuances of community, the power of Indigenous knowledge and the respect required to accurately convey Indigenous perspectives?
At EJN, it's been a complete joy to learn from our international network of Indigenous journalists. I've been humbled by their talent and determination to tell stories that truly make a difference on the ground. Due to a shared history of dispossession, Indigenous journalists are often among the first or few in their communities to enter universities, government offices or other places where they have been historically excluded. In those spaces, their presence is a catalyst for powerful storytelling and fresh perspectives—they ask questions and challenge assumptions about the environment, climate change and narratives about their own communities.
We've learned that supporting Indigenous-led reporting leads to impactful, award-winning work. In the years ahead, more widespread support to Indigenous-led media outlets, where the editorial process is carried out from beginning to end by Indigenous news workers, as well as to Indigenous-led investigative and transnational reporting projects, will be transformative.”
—Amira Abujbara, Editorial Associate at EJN
Equipping journalists to investigate environmental financial crimes
“The illegal wildlife trade and other environmental crimes not only threaten the survival of plants and animals but also impact climate change, security, economic stability and human health—it’s all interconnected. Unfortunately, arresting and prosecuting the masterminds behind these crimes remains elusive. Most of the time, only the ‘small fish’ are arrested and when ‘kingpins’ are caught, they are often released due to insufficient evidence or compromised investigations.
Training journalists in financial investigations to hold ‘green crime’ criminals accountable is crucial and should include comprehensive instruction on financial and business operations including how to analyze public company documents. Where possible, journalists should be given time away from their newsroom duties to focus on this specialized training. However, due to time and budget constraints, it may be more effective to train established financial journalists to investigate green crimes rather than teaching environmental journalists basic financial reporting.
Investigative journalists often face threats from powerful kingpins who are well-funded by illegal activities. Therefore, media training must also prioritize journalist safety, even if it requires partnering with legal entities to ensure their protection.”
—Kiundu Waweru, media trainer and former project manager for EJN’s East Africa Wildlife Journalism project
Better use of data to understand audience needs
Read Internews' Media Viability Accelerator—a web-based platform to help independent media become more financially sustainable
Increased coverage of infrastructure and sustainable development
“According to the Global Infrastructure Hub, global spending on infrastructure projects is projected to reach a total of $79 trillion from 2016 through 2040. Much of that boom is taking place in Southeast Asia.
We’ve found that the two biggest unknowns for journalists reporting on the environmental impact of infrastructure projects is the finance and reporting mechanisms. Who is paying for these projects? How can communities make their voices heard through things like Environmental Impact Assessments? When communities don’t know what tools and mechanisms are available to them [to participate in decision-making processes and ensure their voices are heard before these projects even get started], governments feel more empowered to ignore them.
Right now, in most countries, people don’t know about this; more in-depth coverage of these issues will help communities get involved from the ground up, from the first step, so that these projects that they see being built around them, actually account for how they’re affected—and that economic development does not come at the cost of marginalized populations and the environment.”
—Phil Gassert, Strengthening Transparency in Infrastructure Development Through Environmental Reporting in Southeast Asia Project Manager at EJN
More nuanced reporting on renewable energy
“As the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, the energy sector has rightly been identified as a starting point for countries developing pathways toward net-zero. Governments are churning out policies to drive climate action, focusing on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biofuels, as well as emerging technologies like green hydrogen.
While the media is effectively tracking this rapidly growing sector, reporting could benefit from greater nuance by adopting an energy justice perspective and asking critical questions rooted in equity. For example: Why are environmental clearances not always required for renewable energy projects? What happens to workers in the fossil fuel industry—can they be retrained to work in the renewable energy sector? How are communities impacted when they are displaced or lose access to land or livelihoods due to large renewable energy projects? And how much water is consumed by renewable power plants?
In-depth reporting on these issues will help ensure that the renewable energy sector avoids repeating the mistakes of the fossil fuel industry and that, along with emissions reduction, there is also a reduction of inequalities and injustices.”
—Manasi Pinto, India Program Associate at EJN
Better representation of women’s voices in climate reporting
"The need for increased representation of women and marginalized communities in climate and environmental journalism cannot be understated. In the Asia Pacific region, for instance, research reveals a notable absence of women as experts and sources in environmental news, creating a significant gap that excludes critical perspectives and fails to reflect their lived experiences and concerns.
Representation is crucial not only to amplify diverse voices but also to shape inclusive narratives around climate issues. Women and marginalized communities often have unique experiences and insights into how environmental issues affect their lives—and how they should be addressed more equitably.
In the years ahead, journalists should seek to center their perspectives to highlight the intersectionality of climate impacts with gender, income and ethnicity, in their reporting. By doing so, they will create a more comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and help to ensure that policy actions effectively address these challenges.
To equip journalists to include diverse voices and perspectives in their work, newsrooms and media support organizations could focus on implementing trainings that cultivate an understanding of how climate change intersects with gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status."
—Arianne Olegario, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor at EJN
Banner image: EJN staff Florence Armein, Amrita Gupta, Amy Sim, Joydeep Gupta and James Fahn with Reporting Fellow Kalain Hosein (center) at EJN’s 20th anniversary event in Palo Alto, California, held in May 2024 / Credit: Internews.