Against the current. independent environmental journalism on digital media in Mexico

Abstract

This article presents the results of an exploratory and descriptive study made with the purpose of knowing the reality of environmental journalism in Mexico, through specialized digital media, and of identifying the most solid initiatives in this field. It was found that, of the spectrum of digital portals that divulge environmental information, there are three who produce their own content through a professional practice with a complex and contextualized perspective, close to the cultural and ecosystemic identity of their respective regions of operations. In order to achieve a qualitative comprehension of these journalistic endeavours, interviews were made with the editors of three of them, aiming to know their views on socio environmental issues in the country, the role of environmental journalism in the visibility of environmental topics in the social sphere, and the challenges and possibilities of consolidation of this profession. The editors of these sites are veteran journalists who seek to offer contents that are useful for comprehension, reflection, and decision-making by audiences on local issues. It is concluded that, against the disinterest of other actors to generate useful environmental information for social and political decision-making, it is necessary to strengthen these kind of initiatives, for they constitute a referent to the kind of environmental journalism that is required by the conditions of the country and their replication is desirable in order to favour social action in environmental issues on a local scale.