Barking up the wrong trees
Why journalists focus on other crises. And why it is justified sometimes.
The climate crisis is an existential threat to everyone, everywhere, anytime. But still, sometimes other crises are dominating the news. Sometimes this is justified – like during a pandemic or in the middle of a war. But in Austria there is a lot of talk about migration … as if it was a similar threat. When and why journalists are barking up the wrong tree.
What trees are we barking up?
War is the most immediate threat one can imagine – so, logically, the Russian invasion pushed the climate crisis out of public awareness in the Ukraine.
Khrystyna Miskevych
Ukrainian journalist who currently lives in Lviv. Khrystyna is an intern in media “Rubric” and writes in a special project “Eco Rubric”, which is aimed to show problems of ecology in Ukraine and also give solutions to those problems Ukraine have.
But it is not only war that overshadows the upcoming climate crisis: in Georgia it does not come up due to bad living conditions, corruption, political polarisation and the russian occupation.
Tsira Gvasalia
Georgian journalist, currently working for the Cactus-Media platform, which she established. The media covers healthcare and environmental issues. She has been working as a reporter for almost 10 years already.
Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. But still climate isn't the top concern – inflation and social injustice are hotter topics than the hot temperatures. And migration is catching up quickly again. Thanks to heavy campaigning by right wing parties.
Benedikt Narodoslawsky
Benedikt Narodoslawsky is a journalist, based in Vienna. He writes about environmental issues and biodiversity for the Austrian newspaper FALTER.
Why are we barking up these trees?
When you do not know if there will be food or electricity tomorrow - there is not so much time to contemplate what will be the day after tomorrow.
Even though the climate crisis is an existential threat to all of us, when there is no (or minimal) direct impact in our lives, we are less concerned, less alarmed. This phenomenon is called "psychological distance". But what does it really mean, Claudia Vogrincic-Haselbacher (psychologist)?
No event = no coverage: journalism needs occasions to find relevance in long term developments.
The blame game.
Who is responsible? Spoiler: all of us. Media, politics ... and the audience.
The sound of silence: Why media fail to deliver. Torn between political PR, media's own mechanics and the Soviet tradition of not talking about environmental disasters.
Primacy of politics: When governments only think inside their national borders ... and only think about being reelected and therefore - bark up the wrong trees.
Heat me baby, one more time: when people are not affected personally – they do not apply enough pressure on the media.
Putting the press under pressure – activism created opportunities and forced media to cover their actions. And the climate crisis.
Seeing the wood for the trees
How we can change all that. Together: audience, media, politics.
Stick to the message: The Last Generation and Fridays For Future are success stories - putting a spotlight on climate.
Horror where credit is due: Tagging the climate crisis as the root cause in everyday coverage.
Politicians have to do their jobs - and eliminate all the threats that distract from tackling the climate crisis.
The solution isn't a one-way road ... but a roundabout:
People have to hold politicians accountable. To solve issues like poverty.
Politicians doing their jobs enable the press to focus on the looming threat of the crisis.
Press covering the consequences of climate change will raise awareness in the audience ... who will put more pressure on the political parties ... and so on.
A story by: Tina Lukhutashvili, Kateryna Bortniak, Mavie Michelitsch and Philipp Wohltmann.
Mentoring: Dominik Sinnreich