Environmental journalism is currently in trouble, according to a panel on the subject hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC last week.

Speakers Mother Nature Network columnist Peter Dykstra, Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein, J-Lab Director Jan Schaffer and National Public Radio correspondent Elizabeth Shogren described how many environmental correspondents are losing their jobs, and blamed the situation on the economic downturn. Dykstra explained how environmental journalism becomes popular every few years due to a natural disaster, an oil spill, impending legislation or other similar factors, but then it loses the public's attention and dwindles.

There are some niche sources of environmental news, such as ClimateWire, which are growing, but panellists were concerned that such sites do not have the widespread appeal of mainstream media, and many of their visitors are already very knowledgeable about the issues involved. Panellists believe that much of the public knowledge needed to cause political action comes from the media, and hence for environmental issues it is important to reach as wide an audience as possible.

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has just closed BBC Green: its website which offered advice and information about the environment, for commercial reasons, reported the Guardian. CNN eliminated its science and environmental coverage in December. But on the plus side, the New York Times launched a seven-journalist environmental reporting unit last month.

Source: InfoZine, Guardian