‘Access to information is the basis of democracy’ – Interview with environmental journalist Miriam Jemio on World Press Freedom Day

Miriam Jemio has been a journalist for nearly three decades. For most of her career, she has almost exclusively covered environmental issues, because she considers them to be as important as political or economic issues.

For Jemio, it is incredibly important to reflect the socio-environmental crises that indigenous and rural women are facing, with empathy and sensitivity. “It is essential to cover indigenous issues, because they are a vulnerable population”, she said. “Two decades ago, I had the opportunity to visit many rural municipalities and when I compare their condition today with what I had seen then, there have been very few changes.”

“Therefore, it is necessary to make their needs visible, to show where the State is not fulfilling its duty, and to show the specific ways that the indigenous peoples face social and environmental problems.”

Jemio reported from COP 15 events in 2009, highlighting the stories of indigenous peoples from the Amazon who were facing the impacts of climate change.

“Coverage of environmental issues is essential in the face of the crises we face as humanity, and to combat the disinformation that preys on the public”, she said. “We have to show who is behind the disinformation, expose their interests, and provide verified information to the public so that they can make informed decisions, and we can protect the planet that houses all of us.”

But there is another challenge that haunts her: “how to motivate our audience to take action. We are now turning to “solutions journalism” to inspire action”, she said.