Emergence of environmental journalism in Kenya's mainstream

Abstract

Environmental reporting is a specialized field in the media and there exist scanty research on this subject in Kenya. This study defines what environmental reporting is, before delving into various aspects sub-divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction into what constitutes the environment and environmental reporting. In a handbook 'Environmental Reporting for African Journalists' (2006), the Under-Secretary-General of United Nations and Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr Achim Steiner, notes that environmental information forms the crux of environmental action. The mass media can ensure widespread distribution of environmental information and thus catalyze environmental action. It has been noted that the media play a crucial role in creating environmental awareness through the broadcast channels and print media. It is widely acknowledged that the media can widen environmental debate among the public and encourage their intervention in environmental management. For many years, the media has underscored the dissemination and sharing of environmental information by covering practices and projects, as well as their impact on people and ecosystem. Chapter 2 expounds the research findings related to the topic, both in Kenya and other countries. The literature review provided the important information on the subject and findings from other scholars in the field. Chapter 3 details the methodology used by the researcher to collect data, analyze and make conclusions on the topic. This study adopted the survey research method and employed instruments such as questionnaires, interviews and content analysis to collect data on the status of environmental reporting in Kenya. The data collected and analysis of the findings are presented in Chapter 4 and recommendations made in the following chapters. A study into the role of Kenya's media in environmental reporting in Kenya attempted to establish the level of coverage of environment stories within one decade (1996-2006) and the developments within the media themselves as well as the training of journalists. Findings from this study will inform the media, scholars and decision makers the strategies to improve environmental journalism in Kenya, one of the most technical specialized fields.