Robert A Hackett, Sara Wylie, Pinar Gurleyen







Enabling environments: Reflections on journalism and climate justice

What kind of journalism is relevant for a world beset by potentially catastrophic climate change? While democratic engagement remains a relevant touchstone for journalism in conditions of planetary emergency, we argue that journalism should adopt a crisis-orientation organised around effective frames for climate justice, such as urgency plus agency, climate change as a political issue, environmental citizenship, fossil fuel industry as rogue, and localisation. While such frames may find some openings within hegemonic (Western) media, they face a range of structural and professional constraints. We therefore argue for greater attention to such potentially transformative models and venues as peace journalism and alternative media.

Keywords: climate justice, media frames, democratic communication, crisis journalism, peace journalism, alternative media


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Note on the contributor

Robert A. Hackett, Professor of Communication at Simon Fraser University, is co-founder of NewsWatch Canada, openmedia.ca and Media Democracy Days. His recent publications include Expanding peace journalism: Comparative and critical approaches (co-edited with Ibrahim Seaga Shaw and Jake Lynch), and Remaking media; The struggle to democratize public communication (co-authored with William K. Carroll). Contact details: School of Communication, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Ave. Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, Canada. Email: hackett@sfu.ca. Tel: 1+ 778-782-3863

Sara Wylie graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA Honours in Political Science in 2012. She has experience working with a range of climate and social justice non-profit organisations and is currently the Campaign Manager for the humorous political website, ShitHarperDid.com.

Pinar Gurleyen is a PhD candidate in the School of Communication, Simon Fraser University. Her research interests include alternative media and alternative journalism. Contact: pga9@sfu.ca