Turning the Spotlight on Sustainable Development

Author Nalaka Gundawardene pinpoints the beginning of journalistic understanding and coverage of sustainability issues to the
Brundtland report, authored by a United Nations (UN)-appointed expert commission, which makes broad links between environmental, social, and economic concerns. After noting the increase in understanding of the ecological, societal, and cultural dimensions of sustainable development, he states, "But we still face a vast gap between knowledge and action. By reporting on issues and inspiring public discussion around them, journalists can help narrow this gap."

Gundawardene criticises the "accelerated intergovernmental babble" of studies, reports and strategies - resulting from information and communication technology advances, none of which, he feels, have the impact of the Brundtland report, or are followed by timely actions.

Journalists, however, according to the author, are well equipped to increase public understanding of the issues and inspire the public to participate actively in sustainability. He warns that journalists must not rely on environmental journalism alone, particularly because of the tendency of "ghettoising environmental issues within media organisations." He recommends that, though specialisation is needed in covering the environment and other development sectors, everyone in the media industry - from reporters, producers, and feature writers to editors, managers, and media owners - needs to have enough background knowledge to communicate the bigger picture of the state of the environment.

Gundawardene concludes by suggesting that climate change, as a "charismatic mega-issue," might be the unifying topic. In supporting his position, he cites the "rebranding" of the topic as a development, rather than an environmental, problem. He notes that sustainable development has evolved as the topic that is integral in mainstream journalism and for which rigorous, balanced reporting is needed. Beyond balanced analysis, Gundawardene recommends "questioning conventional wisdom, challenging established notions, and even taking unfashionable positions when the need arises."