How do the young environmental journalists see our planet?

di Silvia Musso

The fifth edition of “Giornalisti nell’erba” Prize (Budding joirnalists) will take place next 27th May in Frascati (Centre Italy). It is a competition for young environmental journalists, from 5 to 21 years, that during the last few months have worked to interviews, articles, photographs, reports, videos, pictures, drawings on topics related to environmental protection.

The project, open to individuals, groups and school classes, was born by an idea of the association “Il Refuso” and has received patronage by the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Environment, the National Order of Journalists, National Federation of Printing, and has the partnership of Ansa agency and European Space Agency (ESA-ESRIN).

This year's theme is "Living Planet" and is inspired by the worldwide campaign of WWF's Living Planet, which every two years examines the ecological footprint of humankind and provides analysis on the health of the Earth and the global environment. This general theme has been applied in three different ways depending on age: "The planet that gives us life" (5 to 10 years), "The dangers of living planet" - eruptions, floods, natural hazards and the effects on human life - (from 10 to 15 years); "We enemies of the living planet" - human action "against" the living planet, climate change, consumption, biodiversity loss, deforestation - (15 to 21 years).

The designs of the children were sent by 15 February and at the moment the jury, chaired by the Director of ANSA Luigi Contu and divided into three committees, is selecting the winners.

Paola Bolaffio, journalist and founder of Giornalisti Nell’Erba, was achieved by our editorial staff by answering the following questions.

From what the necessity to create an award specifically for young journalists, environmentalists was born?
«In all sincerity, the need was that of a mother of four daughters to be educated. Add to this that this mother is a journalist. The language the profession teaches us is that of someone who must mediate between the sources of information and the general public, but in the field of ecology, the situation does not always work. In 2006, when the prize was born, a very funny book was just published, "How to defend against environmentalists" by Tullio Berlengi, ironic book to survive on how to communicate to those who want to raise awareness of environmental protection. The situation was this: pseudo-scientific disclosure moralizing people, and bright promoters of green washing. In recent years, things are changing. A professione and a certain quality begins to exist also for environmental information. The prize wanted to give the opportunity to young people to engage in all forms of communication to tell and to denounce, to take control of their rights to an healthy environment that are still not recognized. It wants to give voice to imagination and experimentation in a field, that of communication, which is changing minute by minute, which gives more space to participate and where everyone can be together reader and media».

The environmental journalism as well as environmental communication sectors are very specific and not always recognized. The prize Giornalisti nell’Erba may contribute to the development of these branches of communication?
«We hope so, really. It is one of the reasons that persuaded us to start this year with another prize, the one the young journalists will give to adult and “real” journalists. This new initiative, under development, will be inaugurated on May 27th giving this first year only one award. From September, all the thousands of budding journalists may give their votes to the journalists who communicate the environment».

The project involves, through the jury and sponsors, a high number of Italian journalists. How in recent years the attention of various media - print, radio, TV, web - has developed in relation to environmental issues?
«The environment, alas, is most often on the front page. But just for the disasters that increasingly merit the headlines. We do not want to believe that we want the escorts to the conference on climate in order to see pages about the decisions that affect the planet. Seriously, we are still far from the correct media attention to environmental issues. However, some of our jury members in recent years, has learned a lot from young budding journalists…»

What attitude is shown by the younger generation towards the environment?
«The new generations are more careful. They look at you wrong if you don’t close the water, they are also able to tell you some bad word if they see you leave the residual waste next to the pape container. Not everyone, of course. At least the budding environmental journalists. Thousands, who enjoy telling the environment and to live it respecfullyt. Without too much philosophy, thay strongly ask the adults what is normal for them: a planet with a future. There is a girl of 5 years in Bologna, who did and sent a drawing for the competition: a living planet. The mother wrote to me that that image, even today after two months, "changes every day, there are additions, other details are erased. Today the world outside is colored blue. The world changes. Continuously».

In short, the planet is really living. Not only to win the prize.