Disentangling the Jargon: Journalists’ Access and Utilisation of Climate Change Information in Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis quantitative and qualitative study investigated journalists’ access to and use of climate change information in Tanzania. It used snowball and purposive sampling methods to identify journalists from the local media. In all, 75 journalists took part in the study. Key findings indicate that conferences and researchers are information sources mostly consulted by the journalists when accessing climate change information. Results reveal journalists’ increased internet use and yet low (N = 27 [37.5%]) usage of social media to access climate change information. Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp were the most used social media platforms. Convenience and timely access to information sources influenced the journalists’ internet usage. The study also found journalists’ insufficient analytical skills, limited awareness of information sources, improper co-ordination, language, reading culture, inadequate training and insufficient information search skills as key challenges to accessing and using climate change information. Challenges to access and use signify low coverage of climate change information in Tanzania. The study concludes that journalists’ specialisation, access to conferences, researchers, internet, and relevant and reliable resources can increase quantity, quality and coverage of climate change information. The study recommends regular information literacy training for journalists to promote their online search skills, reading culture and understanding of climate change.