Media turns focus to environmental issues

The media in Uttarakhand has elicited focus on various important issues and public movements related to the environment like the issue of carbon credits which was first raised in Uttarakhand before any other Indian State. However, there is need for developing trust between the journalistic fraternity and the forest and wildlife fraternity to facilitate journalism which raises awareness on both the environmental problems and solutions. 

These were some of the views which were expressed during the media roundtable on reshaping the future of environmental journalism organised as part of the CMS Vatavaran Biodiversity Film Festival in Dehradun.

Centre for Media Studies chairman N Bhaskara Rao said that research in 2000 showed that only one per cent of prime-time news space was dedicated to environmental issues. He said that Dehradun is an inspiration for the others in India in the environmental aspect and requested the media to raise environmental issues more elaborately.

Former Wildlife Institute of India professor BC Choudhary said that media in India was instrumental in raising various environmental issues like limestone quarrying in Mussoorie which led to the formation of the Eco Task Force; pros and cons of Tehri dam; factors which led to the creation of Corbett Tiger Reserve; environmental and socio-cultural impact of regulation of surface water flow in the Ganga and other issues.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Ecotourism) Rajiv Bhartari said that media in Uttarakhand has been reporting prominently on environmental issues but there is need for in-depth stories which also inform the public about how to prevent anomalies like forest fires.

Noted environmentalist Jagat Singh ‘Junglee’ said that many are interested in simply getting their names and photographs published in newspapers so journalists should ascertain whether the works claimed by such persons are actually executed as purported.

Conservator of Forests SS Rasaily said that both journalists and foresters should be honest to their profession and officials should not take constructive criticism negatively. He stressed on the need for developing trust between journalists and forest officials. Senior journalist Jyotirmay Thapliyal pointed out that though many officials are cooperative there are some who do not communicate with the media.

Reports cannot be filed without authentic data from the department but this is not always easily available so the department should make this available on the internet.

CMS Vatavaran festival director Alka Tomar said that analysis of 19 English and Hindi newspapers in Dehradun revealed during in a period of six months 48 and 52 percent reports in English and Hindi newspapers respectively were on environmental issues. Senior journalist Prem Pratap Singh and Arjun Kaintura of Radio Khushi also expressed their views.

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