A panel of 4 journalists from Agence France Presse, Athens News Agency, Lebanese National News Agency and Maghreb Arabe Presse engaged in this virtual coffee break hosted by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in collaboration with MedWet in the framework of the Offyourmap campaign. The online session was attended by communicators from several environmental organisations in the Mediterranean region.
During these times of uncertainty, news agencies across the Mediterranean have made the pandemic a top priority of their coverage, following their mission to keep the general public informed.
But ‘flattening the curve’ is a need that applies to other urgent issues besides COVID-19, such as climate change. This message was highlighted by journalists and communicators from different environmental organisations during a virtual coffee break held on July 28, 2020.
A panel of 4 journalists from Agence France Presse, Athens News Agency, Lebanese National News Agency and Maghreb Arabe Presse engaged in this virtual coffee break hosted by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in collaboration with MedWet in the framework of the Offyourmap campaign. The online session was attended by communicators from several environmental organisations in the Mediterranean region.
Isabelle Wesselingh from France Presse, explained how her way of working to write environmental stories had remained unchanged by the pandemic. By keeping social distance and wearing her mask, she was able to interview people on the street and visit places to cover her news.
“People in France are now more aware of the importance of buying local products to support local economies throughout the pandemic crisis. There is an increasing interest in how we consume and our link with our natural environment,” explained Wessenlingh.
Elias Palialexis, journalist at Athens Macedonian News Agency, noted that stories linking COVID-19 and environmental issues have achieved greater buy-in from his chief-editors, although sometimes it “was very difficult to come up with new material because there is still a lack of scientific knowledge”. In his opinion, the search for environmental data from media has put pressure on governmental institutions to quickly make them react as it happened with air pollution in cities such as Athens during the lockdown.
Rana El-Hage, from the Lebanese National News Agency, described some media work limitations during the earliest phase — as with interviewing people in person: ‘Some were panicking and trying to avoid any social contact, thus a lot of the interviews were conducted electronically.’
In addition to the social and economic ramifications of COVID-19, the devaluation of the currency and the deep economic crisis that Lebanon has been going through have shifted people’s attention away from environmental issues. ‘Nowadays people’s main concern is how to get cheaper milk and meat rather than join environmentalists to protest against the impact of a planned construction of a dam 35 km south of Beirut, the Bisri Dam — in one of the most pristine valleys in Lebanon.
Senior news editor from the Maghreb Arabe Presse in Morocco, Omar Er Rouch, stressed that all the budget from state governments is now mainly going to the health sector. Thus, the Environment and other problems are not considered big issues anymore. “COVID has silenced all other voices”.
All media reporters unanimously agreed on the need to provide more encouraging examples of how nature can improve the welfare of urban people and provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities. This will allow media to continue inspiring readers, raising their interest in environmental issues, giving hope for the future and encouraging everyone to do their best.
HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES:
National News Agency (Lebanon) – Story from Rana El-Hage
http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-report/1199/Nature-getaways-promote-Lebanon-ecotourism-amid-pandemic
France Press Agency – Story done by Julie Pacorel, journalist for the AFP Marseille’s office
https://news.yahoo.com/paradise-regained-then-lost-med-mammals-mourn-lockdown-025301043.html.
Athens Macedonian News Agency – Stories from Elias Palialexis
https://www.amna.gr/home/article/449088/-I-karantina-enischuei-tin-agria-zoi-sti-thalassa
https://www.amna.gr/home/article/441619/Simantiki-meiosi-tis-rupansis-stin-Athina
For further details, please contact Lourdes Lazaro
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