Journalism in Society: Roles and Challenges in Environmental, War, and Sports Journalism

This article discusses the different roles and challenges of journalism in society, specifically in environmental, war, and sports journalism. It also highlights the importance of a free and independent media in informing and influencing the public.

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Introduction
Journalism refers to as those activities that involve preparing news for broadcast either on radio
or TV, and writing for newspapers, magazines and news websites. From the ancient times, the
main functions of journalism were/are to inform, educate, guide and entertain(McKnight, 2010).
Modern journalism has roles they play in society and would include but not limited to ethical
role-which journalist struggle with on daily basis as they try to weigh between public right to
information and what should or should not be reported(Lester and Hutchins, 2013). The guide or
filter role-giving information that is well scrutinized and filtered not to propel negativity in
society(Tao, 2009). The understanding and context role-they understand the information on
behalf of public and put it into context(McKnight, 2010). The conversational leader role which
entails they start and guide communication and thank the rightful contributors of the
conversation in journalism contexts. The other role is the aggregator role which is to make
people they serve knowledgeable about their community(Lester and Hutchins, 2013). The sixth
role is the straight news role which focuses on what is factual and evident to be reported.
Journalism plays a range of important roles in politics through providing the right information on
political situations of a country. For instance, in order to enable the information flow and provide
the required knowledge about political situation in a given society, journalists have to embrace
dependence and adaptation criteria(Kovach, and Rosenstiel, 2014). This means that, in order to
inform the public on politics, journalist will have to depend on politician and politician depends
on journalists or media to reach their audience. Political communication will rely on mutual
dependence since there are overlapping purposes between political class and the media
professionals(Tao, 2009). No party between the two can realize certain goal without relying on
and cooperating with the other. By so doing, they both need to pursue their audience but with
different goals which in some extent are in some conflicts with each other. For example,
journalist will want to hold the attention of the target audience through some mixture of
entertainment, alerts, informing and education while politician on the other hand want to
persuade the target audience to marry their political views, their political parties views, and what
they target to achieve in their political life.
The reason why there is mutual dependence by both politician and media is because, politician
need access to communication channels which are controlled by mass media as well as hopeful
full plate of audience they offer(Kovach, and Rosenstiel, 2014). On the other hand, media
professionals rely on politician to enable them perform their role in political scrutiny, for
information, news, interviews, action and also comments from them. This means each side offers
the other the valuable resource it requires.
When media engage politician in some of the ways above, they hold them and their political
parties accountable for their actions such as corruption, scandals and other political and
leadership malpractices(Lester and Hutchins, 2013).

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Sport journalism
Sport is an interesting experience for those who play and those spectating. Social researchers
think of sports in various ways like simply a kind of employment, entertainment, or leisure for
those involved(Hagn and Maennig, 2009). Sport is a form of local and national community
solidarities and as well as a form of an expression of belonging an ever unpredictable world. It is
a source of storytelling that binds people together binding into a social cohesion(Andrews,
2013). At local, regional and national level, sport is focal point for the construction of
identities(Chovanec, 2011).
Local and international sports are viewed through the media and journalists are responsible
bringing these events to the public. Sport journalism is one of the most interesting forms of
journalism in offering entertainment(Steensen, 2011). More recent football world cup finals that
took place in Germany in 2006 the events brought about the feeling of the global connectedness,
construction of cultural identities, and cultural exchange(Hagn and Maennig, 2009).
As people celebrate and cheer their team or play against each other they build lasting
relationship. Since sports are done in active fields people are able to mingle freely and share
different experiences(Chovanec, 2011). Journalism is the champion in offering these
connectedness and learning of different cultures as people are able to see what the world outside
looks like(Steensen, 2011).
War journalism
War journalism is the journalism involving reporting firsthand stories from the war zones. War
journalist or correspondents as referred in 19th century, attempts to get closer to the action so as
to provide written accounts, film footage or photos(Lewis, and Reese, 2009). War journalism is
the most dangerous form of journalism as well as the most popular branch of journalism(Tao,
2009). During times of war there are increased sales of newspapers as well as television viewing
shooting up(Kovach, and Rosenstiel, 2014).This form of journalism comes with their
consequences to the individual journalist who may be discredited by state or barred from own
country or even passport dismissal if they report what state feels is not in their favor(Hagn and
Maennig, 2009). A good example of such a case is WilfredBurchett whose September 1945
Hiroshima atomic bombing report published in London’s Daily Express, which was under the
banner “I write this as a warning to the world” led to his government deterrent from returning to
Australia(West, Ji-Moon, and Gregg, 2015). War stories on the other hand earns journalist great
recognition for instance, Winfred Burchett though died in 1983, the story has remained his finest
earning him a place in Victorian Media Hall of Fame,even the decision applauded universally.
However this did not prevent his storydubbed the “scope of the century” (Lewis, and Reese,
2009).
War journalist cover wars events with an aim of independently informing the members of public
without them relying on military or the government informants(Kovach, and Rosenstiel, 2014).

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They do this to help members of public to know, understand and make informed judgment of the
actions undertaken by the government on their behalf. Free and Independent reporting during
times of conflicts helps the public to make informed choice as to whether to support conflicts or
not. However military support may put off public support where there is bloody engagement and
body bags(Hess, 2015). A common example was the war that was lost at home way before, in the
1975, before United State Military disastrous loss in war with Vietnam(Greiner, 2010).
Since public support is crucial for both military and the government, the war arises when media
may seem to win the public trust than the military involved in the war(Lewis and Reese, 2009).
If the public is not in support of either the government or the military it is dangerous and can
breed long-term and severe consequences(Hagn, and Maennig, 2009). This is because there is
likelihood of war arising at home with public opinions(Lewis and Reese, 2009). The key
conflicts between the military and media arises when the military is more focus on patriotism
while media patriotism varies depending on the ownership and organization involved in the
reporting(Jericho, 2012).
In Australia military takes different approach to those of United States’ military when handling
media(McKnight, 2010). This is based on the fact that, many of Australian troops are top secret
ground forces like special Air Service personnel rejecting embedding of journalist with claims
they are impractical(Jericho, 2012). American military trust journalist with giving information
and are ready to give information as much as possible(Lewis and Reese, 2009). With
technologies opening more doors for Australia journalist put them under risks of being called as
witnesses of any subsequent wars crimes trials.
Either in Australia or America today, technology places journalist at high risk of government
draconian restrictions on any operation in the region due to the use of portable satellite cameras
with ability to cover event vividly as they are(Lewis and Reese, 2009).
Environmental journalism
Environmental reporting in Australia can be traced in old days of early 1800s. Journalist in early
times reported on wide range of environmental issues such like cutting down of trees, whales and
Dingoes(Dunwoody, 2014). During mid-19th century media reporting on environment was biased
and some reporting were had political influence and others were purely self-
motivated(McKnight, 2010). During the time, the mass media outlets were becoming powerful
political, social, cultural and economic institutions(Bødker and Neverla, 2012). The book “Silent
Spring”by Rachel Carson was in the forefront of 1960-70s rise of modern environmental
awareness of many issues such like pesticides and pollution. The book made people think of
environmental threats and the need for immediate action. This was a period of growing interests
in connection of human activities and environment(McGaurr, 2010). In newsrooms there was
environmental going rounds as environmental movements got interested in the media coverage.

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Journalists were then accused of too close to the activists(Bødker and Neverla, 2012).. For
instance, the coverage that focused on protest and celebrities like Franklin Dam in 1976-83.
Climate change reporting begun in 1930s and climate change policies begun coming into place in
1880s. Due to increased international and scientific alarm on the climate change, increased
editorial interests were witnessed in newsroom as of 2000s. A good example of scientific alarm
was the release of Al Gore film An Inconvenient Truth in 2006(Farbotko, 2010).
Today, environmental reporting is wide and covers several topic including food security and
climate change(Bødker and Neverla, 2012). There are even school that teach environmental
journalism today to cater for this need. Journalist also covers environmental news events in
human interest angle to help explain the consequences of complex phenomena to public and also
provide space for political challengers who desires to be heard in public debate(McGaurr, 2010).
However, this form of journalism has its own challenges just like war journalism. These
challenges would include: Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, Lars Friberg, and EdoardoSaccenti, all
of Wageningen University state that, it lacks notable press attention like political journalism
since the people involved in climate change campaigns are less prominent and powerful who are
mostly activists(McKnight, 2010).
The other challenge is that Australian papers prioritize business news over nature
news(Giannoulis, Botetzagiasand Skanavis, 2010). According to an article published by
International Communication Gazette in April 2018, two authors Kerrie Foxwell-Norton and
Claire Konkes of University of Griffith and Tasmania respectively wrote, “The discourse
surrounding the protection of Great Barrier Reef has become increasingly business oriented in
Australia” (McKnight, 2010). Their sample focused on two important events of mediatized
environmental conflicts and collected related articles (n=125) in a span of two weeks each year
and found that the total number of articles increased by three out of four papers but the increase
was only industry-based(Lester and Hutchins, 2013). This makes environmental protection
groups and scientists marginalized as sources of environmental issues. In all years and all the
four papers political sources dominated as indigenous people could not be heard once throughout
the sample(Lester and Hutchins, 2013).
The authors’ further analysis shown that, discourse around the Reef had significantly shifted
between 1981 and 2012. “The more recent coverage implies the need to scale back
environmental protection in order to accommodate mining and fishing industries.” This implies
that the need to balance humanity with needs of nature by media has failed(McKnight, 2010).
Conclusion
Journalism is an integral part of the world today in ensuring the public is informed of the
happenings of the world. Media has the responsibility to inform, educate, entertain and warn the
public about certain happenings. They act to influence people in making informed decision as
they give information on daily basis. A freer media offers an independent news coverage which

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is not government or any other forces influenced. Media professionals face serious challenges
especially war journalism due to the sensitivity of the matter they deal with. There are different
forms of journalism covered in this paper and they are and not limited to Environmental
Journalism, War Journalism, Sports Journalism, and political journalism. Each plays its specific
role depending on its nature. For instance, entertainment forms of journalism are politics and
sports, informative form of journalism is war journalism and lastly and not the least educative
journalism is environmental journalism. However each offers the other roles in different
capacities.

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