1. Dr Nicola Jones Media & Cultural Studies University of KwaZulu-Natal
“Sexing up” environmental issues: exploring media eco-ethics, advocacy and journalism in a South African context
Dr Nicola Jones
Media & Cultural Studies
University of KwaZulu-Natal

2. Baggini’s “problem of knowledge”:
“These concerns about truth and knowledge affect the way we read any news story. If we do not believe it is possible for news stories to be true, why should we bother with them at all? The problem, however, is not only one for the non-realists and sceptics. Even if we are not sceptical about the very possibility of truth and knowledge about world events, we still need some way of distinguishing between truth and falsity, knowledge and opinion. And we also need some way of answering those who would view our belief in truth and knowledge as being outmoded, naïve and simplistic” (Baggini, 2002:22).

3. Challenges faced by journalists:
Lack of training
Unsupportive editors
Limited access to information and interviewees
Environment beat considered a “lower order” genre
Jargon alienating readers from climate change stories

4. Facing up to reality:
Conflicting moral ideals and marketplace realities
Do we need to make climate change stories “sexy”?

5. Exploring ethics for environment and climate change reporters in South Africa:
Getting it right
Textbook versus frontier science
Evidence
The scientific method
Uncertainty
Balance
Risks with benefits

6. Caring and advocacy journalism:
What happens when you don’t want to remove yourself from a story?