World News Day observed with focus on climate crisis

World News Day - The Climate Crisis

Dhaka, Sept 28 – Bangladesh on Tuesday joined the global community of journalists in observing the annual World News Day, which aims to promote the importance of authentic journalism.

News organisations and media houses came together across the world on this fourth iteration of World News Day, choosing to highlight the critical importance of credible journalism in providing trustworthy information about the climate crisis and the planet's future.

With the involvement of 500 news organisations across the world, the campaign focuses on one point -- climate change, or as the terminology shifts, the climate crisis -- with 2021 on course to be declared as the hottest year on record amid the worsening consequences of global warming.

The flagship virtual event of this year's campaign is a 75-minute Web show titled “World News Day: The Climate Crisis”.

World News Day is an initiative driven by the Canadian Journalism Foundation and the World Editors Forum to raise awareness about the critical role of journalists in people’s lives. The very first World News Day was observed on September 28, 2018.

In a statement on the occasion, UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan said, “Today is a good day for journalism as journalists across the globe are observing World News Day, a global campaign aimed at displaying support for journalists and their audiences.”

Stating that the World Editors Forum and Canadian Journalism Foundation regularly organize the “World News Day” every year, he appreciated their choice of ‘Climate Change’ as the issue to focus on this year.

Khan noted how global warming was a reality long before it drew the world’s attention.

“But the enormous media focus on the issue has changed the whole scenario. Extensive news coverage on global climate change is very crucial for measuring its impacts and sharing scientific knowledge. Writing analyses and telling stories from the ground on how climate change is endangering our future has gone up in all countries of the world. The role of media in this regard has been excellent, though its level of attention differs from country to country,” he observed.

The UNB Editor-in-Chief said climate change in Bangladesh is a critical issue as the country bears the brunt of its adverse impacts despite being a ‘nano-emitter’ from a global perspective. “The media in Bangladesh has been in the forefront of the climate change adaptation campaign as the country has taken the lead role in tackling the issue.”

Khan said United News of Bangladesh (UNB), one of the most trusted news platforms in South Asia for four decades now, reaches over 20 million readers and viewers every day, and has always attached great importance to regular coverage of climate change and the attendant issues.

“UNB along with its sister organization WildTeam, a conservation organization, has been at the cutting edge by covering news on global warming and sharing the findings of the surveys conducted by the WildTeam. I again appreciate the organizers and thank them for accommodating UNB in this programme. We wish the day a grand success!” he concluded.

UNB Director Nahar Khan in a statement called it ‘a great occasion for journalists across the globe,’ as the fourth World News Day is being observed highlighting the core values of journalism.

Referring to the day’s theme, she said climate change, greatly influenced by human actions, is the most  pressing issue of the present era for the human race, as it affects the entire planet, and thereby all its inhabitants.

“World News Day 2021 highlights this crucial challenge of our times and the role journalists play in protecting the planet by providing reliable information about the climate crisis. Media outlets across the world now need to give due attention to this key issue and demonstrate how journalism can use its power to save our planet,” she said, before commending the organizers for their choice on behalf of UNB, which as a Bangladesh-based outlet often reports from the frontlines of the climate crisis.

“We at UNB particularly appreciate the organizers for picking the Climate Crisis as this year’s theme for World News Day,” she added.   - UNB