issues requiring attention have been identified. Media coverage is still mostly influenced by events such as climate conferences and disasters. The media house intends to pursue further requests with SARS on the matter. Mechanisms such as PAIA are important for holding the powerful to account and for limiting regulatory manoeuvres by the state and its entities in hiding information that is otherwise in the interest of not only the public, but the state itself as highlighted by the successful COVID-19 vaccine contracts application by Health Justice Initiative. Climate change is still also treated as a beat, instead of being incorporated as a cross-cutting issue that impacts economics, health, agriculture and other areas of development. Dr Sithole’s study also revealed a reliance on stories from foreign news networks and he concludes that this might suggest that the climate crisis is not of local concern. SANEF notes that there have also been cases where journalists were either refused access to the courts or poorly treated, which infringes on the freedom of the media and access to information. The study makes several recommendations, which include the training of climate journalists and the sensitisation of media organisations to improve reporting on the climate crisis. The Council is also concerned about the increasing complaints by the media that government institutions are not responding to media queries or providing useful information when requested to comment despite this being a constitutional obligation. It is worth noting that the Daily Maverick and Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism have deliberately set up dedicated coverage of climate change and sustainability. The Daily Maverick has secured corporate sponsorship to set up a team of journalists specialising in this beat. Limited and non-existent avenues for accessing information, especially from public institutions, present complications for effective, timely and sufficient service delivery, especially in places and times where it is needed the most. Bhekisisa has been producing gendered special reports on climate change that link this phenomenon to physical and mental health. (12) Climate change and justice They have also begun to link climate change to health challenges such as the prevalence of pandemics and changes in diet resulting in lifestyle diseases. According to a recent study by Dr Enock Sithole , the media coverage of climate change in South Africa is on the increase, although several (11) References 1. Reporters Without Borders. South Africa. Reporters without Borders https://rsf. 7. Msimanga, M. J., Tshuma, L. A., Matsilele, T. & Jamil, S. Contending with Sexual org/en/country/south-africa (2023). Harassment: A Study of Southern African Female Journalists’ Experiences. Journal 2. Committee to Protect Journalists. South African court throws out urgent bid to of Communication Inquiry, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01968599231210790 gag Media24 - Committee to Protect Journalists. Committee to Protect Journalists (2023) https://cpj.org/2023/08/south-african-court-throws-out-urgent-bid-to-gag-me- 8. Daniels, G. Glass Ceilings: cybermisogyny is a sign of unchecked sexism in media dia24/ (2023). and newsrooms. Agenda35, 123–135 (2021). 3. Ludolph, N. Floods, food and families: Why climate change makes eating well 9. Reuters Institute. Women and leadership in the news media 2024: Evidence from harder. https://bhekisisa.org/special-reports/climate-change/2024- 12 markets | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://reutersinstitute. 02-19-floods-food-and-families-why-climate-change-makes-eating-well-harder/ politics.ox.ac.uk/women-and-leadership-news-media-2024-evidence-12-markets. (2024). (2024) 4. Committee to Protect Journalists. South African court prohibits former pres- 10. Media Monitoring Africa, Campaign for Free Expression, South African National ident’s private prosecution of journalist Karyn Maughan - Committee to Protect Editors’ Forum, SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition & Press Council South Journalists. Africa. New Film and Publication Board regulations stifle free speech. https://www. Bhekisisa https://cpj.org/2023/06/south-african-court-prohibits-former-presi- dents-private-prosecution-of-journalist-karyn-maughan/. (2023) dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-01-new-film-and-publication-board-regula- 5. Media Defence. SLAPPs in South Africa: The Karyn Maughan Case - Media De- tions-stifle-free-speech-and-must-be-withdrawn-immediately/ (2024). fence. 11. Sithole, E. Climate change journalism in South Africa: noticeable improvements, https://www.mediadefence.org/news/slapp-south-africa-karyn-maughan/. (2023) less than adequate. FOJO Media Institute Report. 10.15626/fojo.s.202301. (2023) 6. Global Witness. Violent and sexualised hate speech targeting women journalists 12. Daniels, G. We’re a world away from Black Wednesday 1977, but the powerful approved for publication by social media platforms. https://www.globalwitness. are still trying to shut up the media in 2023. Daily Maverick https://www.dailymav- org/en/campaigns/digital-threats/south-africa-women-journalists-hate-speech/. erick.co.za/opinionista/2023-10-16-media-in-the-crosshairs-some-things-stay- (2023) the-same/ (2023). 75 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023