support, especially during volatile campaign periods during which politicians and parties target journalism and journalists. A study on climate journalism and climate change communication in South Africa jointly commissioned by the Wits University Centre for Journalism (South Africa) and Fojo Media Institute of Linnaeus University, Sweden provides valuable insight. It is probably best summed up by Anton Harber whose response in “Climate Change Journalism in South Africa: Noticeable Improvements, Less Than Adequate” study asks: “Are all South Africans fully alerted and informed about how climate change is going to affect us? It points out how “media approach climate change as a beat, instead of incorporating it in other beats since the climate crisis impacts various issues, such as economics, health, politics, food, security, agriculture . . .” (16) “Not how it affects other countries, how it’s going to affect us? My answer to that would be ‘no’. This point, together with the observation that the media needs “to improve the public’s understanding of climate change because they cannot associate the reporting with their day-today lives — even though, as the science makes clear, the toll is tremendous. It also leaves the impression that climate change is an issue for elites, politicians and activists, and not ordinary people.” (17) “The media is not playing its role in saying to ordinary people, to politicians, to everyone: ‘you need to pay attention to this, it’s going to have an impact on our country. Our economy, our people, everything, pay attention’. “There are some outlets making an effort, but where we fall short is in making it interesting and accessible to ordinary people. ‘ What all this comes down to is the ability to connect the dots, which is something that the political parties in the countries scheduled to hold elections this year, have not been able to do because they do not place much significance on the environmental bread and butter issues. “How does it affect you?’ We don’t have enough of that.” He said the media was reporting on scientific jargon often from climate conferences, without finding the language and stories that make people “sit up and think about it”. The ability of the media to connect with their audiences is what may contribute to public References 1. 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