INSIGHT

“Not just a brand”: How News 1st’s journalism helps protect the environment

20th May 2024

Over recent years, Sri Lanka’s News 1st has broken multiple stories of environmental abuses, from maritime disasters to deforestation. And despite political efforts to place greater restrictions on the media, News 1st’s Zulfick Farzan describes how they remain “committed to ethical and unbiased reporting.” 

By Zulfic Farzan, Journalist and News Manager at News 1st

Media freedom is a cornerstone of any democratic society, allowing journalists to hold those in power accountable, inform the public, and foster open discourse.

In Sri Lanka, journalists and media professionals have faced numerous challenges over the years, including censorship, violence, and restrictions on press freedom.

Sri Lanka has a tumultuous history of media censorship and violence against journalists. Journalists covering sensitive topics such as corruption, human rights abuses, and political controversies still face risks. Journalists play a crucial role in raising awareness about environmental issues, including deforestation, climate change, and habitat loss.

Read more: “High quality environmental journalism needs all our support”

In 2017, News 1st exposed mass deforestation in Wilpattu National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s most vital forest regions. News 1st journalists faced significant challenges during their reporting. Local political figures, involved in illegal tree felling, obstructed their work.

News 1st encountered similar obstacles while covering illegal logging activities across different regions of the country. Some deforestation was linked to development projects, while others were purely profit-driven. Sri Lanka’s forest cover declined from 29.7% in 2017 to 16.5% in 2019. Historical data shows that forest density was around 82% in 1882, highlighting the severity of deforestation.

Furthermore, it must be stressed that the relentless reporting by News 1st added pressure on the authorities to look for better compensation from the X-Press Pearl Maritime Disaster, the worst maritime disaster to hit the island nation in recorded history.

Journalists play a crucial role in raising awareness about environmental issues, including deforestation, climate change, and habitat loss.

At the same time, the media in Sri Lanka has also played a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of the youth, who witness environmental issues and speak out. News 1st is not just a brand, but a medium for these youths to make their voices heard, in protecting the environment.

Yet, efforts are being made by the political leadership to bring in new legislation through various avenues to restrict the role of the media. Despite obstacles, News 1st remains committed to ethical and unbiased reporting.